Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
PARIS, France — Another label, another tribe: the Balmain posse of muscled-up ubermensch is certainly no less hedonist. They are not clubbers, though, but flashy and wealthy jet-setters that end up on the world's most beautiful islands and beaches, and Instagram for the joy and envy of their followers. This is more or less the scenario Olivier Rousteing conjured in the show notes, which translated into the usual galore of sculptural tailoring, sexy militarism and overpowering decoration.
Faithful to the beach mood, the collection looked a lot lighter than usual: airy knits in colourful stripes were featured abundantly, together with sun-bleached denim, ponchos and an avalanche of embroideries. One might ask where on earth does a man like this live? He seems like an oddity left floating around since the 80s — but the screaming fans outside and the star-studded audience was proof that there is ample room for Balmain's vision in the world.
