Olivier Rousteing’s first collection for Balmain was a Las Vegas inspired affair with some cowboy and matador touches thrown in for good measure. Having worked under Decarnin for four years, Rousteing is clearly versed in the Balmain customer desires and today delivered exactly that, with aplomb. There were skin tight silhouettes, daringly short hemlines and heaps of razzle dazzle. After the show, he told i-D that he had been inspired by the work of Nudie Cohen, the man who designed ridiculously cool rhinestone covered jumpsuits (Nudie suits) for country-and-western stars in the sixties. This informed the western spirit of the collection from the oversized cowboy buckles, the fringing and the ornate embroidery. A great start from a designer who is bringing his own youthful (he is only 25 years old!) point of view to this great Parisian house.
Text: Caroline Newell
Photography: Mitchell Sams
