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From the voluminous skirts of the post-World War II “New Look” favored by Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich to the sleek, skinny jeans seen on Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and every Kardashian, clothes from the House of Balmain have long been mainstays in celebrity wardrobes.
The son of a dressmaker and a drapery salesman, Pierre Balmain was born in 1914 in southeastern France and formed an interest in fashion at an early age. His mother wanted her son to be an architect — but the principles of design and structure Balmain learned in his brief studies at the École des Beaux Arts served him well throughout his career.
Balmain founded his now-iconic label in 1945. Alongside fellow couture titans Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, Balmain’s postwar take on luxe dressing featured bell-shaped skirts falling from slender waists, structured jackets over sheath day dresses and embellishments like fur trim; he called the look “Jolie Madame.” The Duchess of Windsor was an early fan, prompting an aristocratic following.
Balmain was among the first to offer French looks to the American market. Since Pierre Balmain’s death in 1982, the design reins have been handed to luminaries such as Oscar de la Renta and Olivier Rousteing, an alum of Roberto Cavalli who was installed as creative director at the label in 2011.
Today’s Balmain has more in common with the master’s original haute couture than you might expect: sharply tailored blazers that nip in at the waist, delicate stilettos and ultra-feminine evening dresses are wardrobe basics for the 21st-century woman, too. Lovers of couture history will also prize the fluid, easy sketches from the master’s own hand they’ll find on offer here, while fashionistas clamor for the brand’s t-shirts, military-style jackets and skinny jeans.
Whether you’re a colonel in Rousteing’s “glamour army” or you fancy yourself a “Jolie Madame,” a Balmain piece — from the 1960s or even last season — will add a bold, sexy note to your look. Daytime or night, Balmain feels right now.
Find vintage Balmain dresses, skirts, shoes and other garments and accessories on 1stDibs.
- Is Balmain black owned?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Balmain is owned by the investment firm Mayhoola for Investments, which is based in Qatar. It is currently headed by creative director Olivier Rousteing, a Black designer. Shop for expertly authenticated Balmain products from top boutiques around the world on 1stDibs.
- What is the Balmain brand?2 Answers1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Balmain is a French fashion house that opened in 1945. The full name of the company is Pierre Balmain, S.A., after founder Pierre Alexandre Claudius Balmain. Although the brand produces a full range of apparel and accessories, its leather jackets and blazers are especially well known. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Balmain.1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Balmain brand is a French luxury fashion house founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945. The current creative director is Oliver Rousteing, who was 25 years old at the time of his appointment. Prior to Balmain, Rousteing was the creative director for the women’s ready-to-wear collection at Roberto Cavalli. Find an assortment of Balmain apparel from the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sometimes. Balmain offers many styles of polarized sunglasses as well as non-polarized sunglasses to suit your needs and personal preferences. Polarization is typically identified in the name or features of the particular style of sunglasses. On 1stDibs, find a range of authentic Balmain sunglasses from top sellers.