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Jaw-dropping and scandalous. Surely, not since the days of Gianni Versace have we seen such high-octane, devil-may-care opulence on the runway. Twenty-six year old (yes he’s only twenty-six) head designer Olivier Rousteing delivered a Balmain collection that left some editor’s jaws agape. It was as if a bomb had exploded inside a diamond mine and models emerged from the smoke wearing dresses entirely encrusted with glittering stones and precious pearls. The detailing on the patterns, hand-stitched stones and velour textures was almost too fine to catch as the models walked but one thing was clear, every single stitch and seam was in step with Rousteing’s vision for Balmain. This young, handsome designer who dares to be audacious and sends powerful, unapologetic billionaire bling down the runway is quite quiet yet charming in person. This being just his second collection for Balmain, this new chapter in the life of Balmain is shaping up to be a powerful drama.
Text: Sarah Hay
Photography: Mitchell Sams
Click here to see our AW12 Womenswear coverage in full.
