Luxury brands now use almost every corner of Los Angeles for their runways, from Chanel at Paramount Studios to Burberry at the Griffith Observatory, Saint Laurent on the beach in Malibu to Gucci on Hollywood Boulevard. However, one truly iconic spot remained.

It’s like our Eiffel Tower an L.A. native said of seeing the 100-year-old Hollywood sign used as the backdrop for the fall 2024 Balenciaga show Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Demna’s latest extravaganza was held on Windsor Street, which offers perhaps the best view of the landmark in the city. It was quite a culture shock to see the old monied neighborhood of Windsor Square, home to Gettys, Chandlers and the L.A. mayor’s residence, stormed by the all-black-clad, Spandex bodysuit-boot wearing, grill-sporting, avant-garde fashion set.

As Nicole Kidman deadpanned, posing in a knockout off-shoulder tweed couture coat dress that made her the day’s best dressed, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, François-Henri Pinault, Salma Hayek, and newly minted brand ambassador Nicole Kidman attended her first Balenciaga show on the street.

This is my purse for today, this is what Demna wanted me to carry, a little Erewhon Balenciaga bag with flowers, so I’m going to give him the flowers when it’s done, Kardashian said, walking in with a brown paper shopping bag signaling the collaboration between the haute health food store and Balenciaga on a black smoothie in stores now.

After an hour-plus of arrivals and photo ops, everyone took their seats in folding chairs on either side of the street under the swaying palms.

Demna said he wasn’t sure about showing in L.A. until he started his mood board for the fall collection. I wanted to go back to these cinematic shows, because I don’t think there is any point to just showing nice clothes.

Cardi B in a blue furry clutch coat and Brigitte Nielsen struggling to walk in thigh-high patent leather boots were some of the surprises on the runway for the designer.

I wanted to show the multitude of what L.A. represents to me, but it also makes sense in what I do at Balenciaga, from jogger athletic shorts to a couture dress, and the whole multitude in between the streetwear.