Balmain Spring Summer 2024 Fashion Show

Despite the unexpected challenge of having to completely recreate 70 percent of the collection on a tight schedule due to a carjacking incident involving the original pieces en route from Charles de Gaulle airport, Oliver Rousteing of Balmain displayed remarkable energy and eloquence. He was adorned in a distinctive, heavily-shouldered Balmain jacket and showcased striking new braids, exuding an infectious enthusiasm and a positive demeanor.

Rousteing articulated that the essence of the collection was his commitment to preserving Balmain as a quintessential French luxury brand. He delved into the question of what it truly means to be French and sought to provide answers through his artistic creations. The collection prominently featured tailored pieces, including the brand's iconic sharp-angled blazers adorned with golden buttons, as well as flawlessly tailored dresses that boasted feminine accents at the hips, reminiscent of Balmain's couture output from both the 1990s and 1950s. Models carried cone-shaped bags with chain straps, filled with what appeared to be patent leather roses in black.

The vibrant color palette continued to captivate with ensembles like green blazers paired elegantly with mid-thigh pink ruffle skirts, and strapless silk dresses adorned with delicate peach ruffles or crowned with blue bodices embellished with metallic branches and enamel roses.

Rousteing found inspiration in Gertrude Stein's famous quote, "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose," and ingeniously explored various interpretations of roses throughout the collection. These roses materialized as gathered fabric on a striking long red silk dress, blossomed on a patent leather coat, and sprouted gracefully from necklines crafted from semi-transparent recycled plastic. The intricate embroidery of roses, a hallmark of early-Rousteing Balmain, also made a captivating appearance.

The collection served as Rousteing's vision of "French luxury," offering a diverse range of women's fashion styles, from chic and youthful to sophisticated and bohemian. He emphasized that the Balmain rose symbolized not only romance but also resilience and fortitude. In its entirety, the collection was a vibrant fusion of love, color, happiness, joy, and a hint of inner turmoil.

Set to a captivating Björk soundtrack, Rousteing's Balmain collection proved to be an exhilarating exhibition of bold, whimsical, and emotionally-charged designs, embodying a wide spectrum of emotions and social sentiments, and making an audacious statement in the world of fashion.