Olivier Rousteing brings Balmain back to the couture schedule after 16 years with a futuristic take on the highest form of fashion.
instagram.com/balmain
We saw the familiar signatures of his designs aesthetic that he applies to the ready-to-wear collections, but for this occasion he dialed it up a notch or two. When before the shoulders were accented, here they wore blown up to a whole new level, if previously there was a coating of embellishment, here the pieces were practically drowning in pearls and beading.
instagram.com/olivier_rousteing
But it wasn’t the weight of the decorations that stood out, despite the theme resting heavily on pearls, but the intricate manipulation of fabric and modern architectural shapes that elevated the Balmain name to the Haute Couture status.
It was still edgy as you would expect from Rousteing, but there were elements of French refinement that you can pick up from the opening white looks where he blended sharp and soft lines, while also mixing up the textures with the help of frothy tulle and theatrical pleats.
instagram.com/balmain
It was confident first step for the designer into the realms of couture, but who is the ‘Balmain couture woman’ is still up for debate.
