Balmain On Sale
Early 2000s French Car Coats
1970s Clutches
Early 2000s Portuguese Cocktail Dresses
20th Century French Vests
Mid-20th Century French Ties
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shirts
20th Century French Coats and Outerwear
1980s Jackets
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s French Wedding Dresses
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
1990s Italian Evening Dresses
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
Early 2000s French Blazers
1950s French Opera Coats
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
1940s American Double-Breasted Jackets
20th Century Unknown Bolero Jackets
1970s French Tuxedo Jackets
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
20th Century French Blazers
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
Late 20th Century French Double-Breasted Jackets
1990s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary French Capes
1970s Clutches
1980s French Pants
1970s French Evening Dresses
1980s French Scarves
1960s French Evening Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary French Jackets
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pants
1950s Hats
Late 20th Century Cardigans
1950s French Coats and Outerwear
1950s French Coats
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pullovers
21st Century and Contemporary French Cocktail Dresses
21st Century and Contemporary French Vests
1950s French Stoles
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pencil Skirts
Late 20th Century Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
Balmain On Sale For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Balmain On Sale?
Pierre Balmain for sale on 1stDibs
Pierre Balmain founded his now-iconic label in 1945. Alongside fellow couture titans Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, the French designer'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.
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, Balmain's founder 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 that Pierre learned in his brief studies at the École des Beaux Arts served him well throughout his career.
Balmain was among the first to offer French looks to the American market. Since the death of the founder in 1982, the design reins at the company 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 Pierre Balmain dresses, skirts, scarves and other garments and accessories on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Clothing for You
From museum-worthy vintage Oscar de la Renta evening dresses and jackets to audacious T-shirts and trousers from provocative punk designer Vivienne Westwood, one thing is abundantly clear: If the clothing available on 1stDibs could talk, it would certainly make a statement.
For fashion lovers, the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers — think Galliano and Cavalli — but maybe ‘80s accessories are among your (guilty?) pleasures. Playful, boldly colored coats and outerwear from Moschino and other titans of the era can take a simpler ensemble to the next level, while chic and practical suits from the likes of Christian Dior and Chanel remain classic for haute couture advocates and beyond. By exploring the vast array of vintage collections on these pages, you can transform your closet into a retreat that is as retro as it is royal.
Velvet cocktail dresses and silk evening gowns designed by French-born American couturiere Pauline Trigère — who dressed Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor — have proven timeless since their mid-century debut, while an overcoat by Alexander McQueen is the perfect finishing touch. In fact, an emerald one stays in rotation for Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.
Those seeking modern high-fashion brands are also in luck. Turn your day-to-day into a runway with selections from Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace or complete that fresh look with stunning footwear classics from the likes of Gucci and Christian Louboutin. The future — and glamorous past — of fashion is yours for the wearing.
Build your collection of covetable and iconic vintage garments by shopping on 1stDibs. No matter where you roam, our diverse apparel and accessories will keep you covered in the hottest styles and comfiest black hoodie imaginable.