Balmain
The Label
When French couturier Pierre Balmain founded his house in 1945, he, Christian Dior, and Cristobal Balenciaga were the design giants responsible for reenergizing lavish couture dressing after World War II. Balmain’s elegant, super-feminine looks were favorites among European royalty and Hollywood fashion plates such as Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren. Since Balmain’s death in 1982, the glory days have dwindled, and the house has been a revolving door of sorts for designers including Andrew Gn, Gilles Dufour and Laurent Mercier, and now Christopher Decarnin. Perhaps most notably Oscar de la Renta helmed Balmain’s couture from 1993 to 2002.
The Look
Ultra-elegant evening attire, with a draping and pleating focus, that’s recently taken a turn toward touch-chic, thigh-grazing, body-skimming looks.
The Designer
Christophe Decarnin arrived at Balmain fresh from a stint at Paco Rabanne. He quickly infused the floundering house with a fresh take on the classic couture-driven looks: ladylike refinement cut with a contemporary rock edge. This louche new look made headlines when French starlet Audrey Tatou and Sofia Coppola wore his dresses from his debut collection at the Cannes Film Festival.
