Wed 31st October
After a 17 year-long break, Balmain is coming back to couture. Just announced by the brand’s creative director and designer Olivier Rousteing, the French house is turning towards the highest end of the fashion spectrum. Last time we saw Balmain couture, the brand was helmed by the late, great Oscar De La Renta. That collection for Autumn/ Winter 2001 graced us with feather hemmed skirts, royal satin gowns, ruched jackets and a confectionary assortment of pastel suits.
Since coming at the head of Balmain at the tender age of 25, Olivier has completely revolutionised the face of Balmain, morphing architectural lines and a vetted influence in the military aesthetic onto the high-glamour of the clothes. Rousteing’s appointment aided in bridging the gap between the new-gen. and the heritage brand, forming a cult following under the moniker ‘Balmain Army’.
As he revealed the news that the January couture calendar will have a new/ old name joining in at this year’s at the annual WWD’s Apparel/ Retail and CEO summit in NYC, Olivier added that he’s “looking to bring back the Parisian DNA”. It’s not difficult to imagine his ideas on an haute couture level – the craftsmanship and fine details are already present in the ready-to-wear, so only the sky is the limit. We predict structure, exaggerated silhouettes, and maybe even a train or two. January, oh January, why are you so far away?
