Balmain
French designer Pierre Balmain founded fashion house Balmain in 1945. His opulent couture like gowns quickly earned him a loyal fan-base including Brigitte Bardot and Ava Gardner. After Balmain’s death in 1982 many designers tried to take over the label, yet failed to revive it to its former glory. It wasn’t until 2005, when Paco Rabane designer Christophe Decarnin was appointed Creative Director, that Balmain’s popularity began to regrow. Decarnin’s vision for Balmain was clear: a tough, rocker inspired look with heavy military references. Decarnin pulled away from the traditional luxury gowns that Balmain was once known for and created his now iconic party-girl image. Recent Balmain collections have featured glamorous thigh-skimming party dresses, distressed leather jackets and slim line rocker trousers. The majority of his collections feature sequins or Swarovski crystals making for designs that ooze sex appeal.▼
