Lounging in noir and shadow, Nicole Kidman channels old-Hollywood detachment with a modern edge—Balenciaga’s latest muse in a portrait of quiet power.
Nicole Kidman doesn’t pose—she occupies. In Balenciaga’s Winter 2025 campaign, shot by Juergen Teller at a hotel in Biarritz, Kidman reclines in a black gown that’s less costume, more character study. The dress, with its high slit and sculptural drape, is part of the house’s latest collection—a final statement from Demna, before Pierpaolo Piccioli steps in as creative director.
The campaign, titled “The Clients”, reimagines Teller’s 1999 series with a cast of cinematic icons and fashion legends: Isabelle Huppert, Claudia Schiffer, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Kidman herself. Each is photographed solo, in stark lighting and ornate interiors, creating a tension between luxury and lived-in realism. Kidman’s look is pared back but potent: sheer black stockings, a structured black handbag with gold hardware and the signature “B” logo, and minimal makeup that lets her bone structure do the talking. The setting—a vintage sofa, faded wallpaper, and soft shadows—feels like a scene from a European arthouse film.
It’s not glossy. It’s deliberate. Styling by Marie Chaix, makeup by Sam Visser, and hair by Jake Gallagher complete the tableau. The accessories—especially the waxed-suede Rodeo bag and Shibuya satin pumps—are given still-life treatment in companion frames, emphasizing texture over trend.
