Is Balmain streetwear?

No, Balmain is not usually considered streetwear.

Streetwear generally refers to casual, comfortable and stylish apparel and accessories. It's heavily influenced by popular culture, and pioneering streetwear brands such as Stüssy and Supreme are forever intertwined with surfing and skating (thanks to high fashion's love affair with streetwear, black hoodies and graphic tees have certainly seen their fair share of runway time). Balmain, on the other hand, is a haute couture house founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945 that gained international acclaim for its elegant postwar gowns and full, luxurious skirts.

However, as often as today's Balmain offers ultra-feminine evening dresses and sharply tailored blazers, there are bold and edgy designs that aren't commonly associated with legacy haute couture labels. The brand's Resort menswear collection, which debuted in 2019, offered plenty of hoodies, dazzling graphic patterns and denim. And fashionistas can't help but clamor for the brand's t-shirts, military-style jackets and biker jeans.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Balmain clothing and accessories.