Balmain Pre-Fall 2024 collection lookbook.
With his reflections on 10 years of influencing the Balmain story, Olivier Rousteing stands as a rare veteran in a fashion world too frequently obsessed with the newest debutantes. He joins the exclusive ranks of Ian Griffiths at Max Mara and Véronique Nichanian at Hermès menswear, having served as the runway industry's third longest-serving creative director.
Despite being only 38 years old, Rousteing has already made a name for himself in the business by combining his own flare with Balmain's history. Rousteing underscores the value of time in creating a legacy at a time when the fashion commentariat frequently concentrates on the hype surrounding designer debuts. He says, "You can't tell a story or create a legacy in one or two seasons, or one or two years," emphasising the necessity of giving designers room to develop their own mark on a brand.
When Rousteing took over in 2011, he inherited a Balmain that was on the rise from Christophe Decarnin, and he carried the house to unprecedented heights during his leadership. His seasoned style is best shown in the Pre-Fall 2024 collection, which takes its cues from Miami's bustling city life.
The overall tone of the collection is Miami-inspired, drawing inspiration from the city's vivid pastel art deco style as well as references to Pierre Balmain's Elba home, which was designed by architect Leonardo Ricci and covered in tapestries.
A wealth of layered allusions can be seen in the Miami-meets-Cuba spring 2013 collection, which weaves a tapestry of inspirations throughout the clothing. Calling it a "real Balmain collection," Rousteing highlights the collection's harmony between adhering to the house's design and adding his own happiness and assurance to it.
Palm trees, pastel colours, and magnificent flamingos in flight are featured in the collection's images, which are set against diamond checks and silhouettes that evoke the unbridled joy of a Saturday night on South Beach. Giving a hint to his own notion of extravagance, Rousteing embraces the concept of "quiet luxury" and says, "This is my quiet luxury."
At 38, Rousteing is not only older than many of his peers but also has more experience in the post than most of them have. In a field that frequently rewards the unconventional, his ability to skillfully combine the legacy of Balmain with his own bold vision establishes him as a designer of exceptional aptitude.
As the creative director of Balmain, Rousteing keeps paving a path that pays homage to the house's history while simultaneously launching it into the future with unrestrained imagination and self-assurance.
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