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.
Pierre Balmain Paris 346 Zig Zag
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Bristol, CT
Original Pierre Balmain (1914-1982) couture fashion hand-coloured plate with 3 fabric swatches attached designed for New York society icon Nan Kempner (1930-2005) circa 1970s Plate ...
Fabric
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
By George Romney
Located in Miami, FL
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be ...
Oil, Canvas
$16,454
H 44.49 in W 30.32 in D 1.97 in
The French-Prussian War - Oil on Canvas by Raoul Arus - Late 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The French-Prussian War is an original modern artwork realized by the French painter Raoul-Joseph Arus in the last decades of the XIX Century. Original Oil painting on Canvas. Hand...
Canvas, Oil
$7,950
H 25.5 in W 31.5 in D 2 in
“Florenz (Florence), c. 1910” Post-Impressionist Italy Tuscany Landscape Oil
Located in Yardley, PA
An exceptional post-impressionist view of Florence, Italy by Carl Schmitz-Pleis (1877-1943). In the spring of 1910 Schmitz-Pleis and fellow friend/artist Walter Hugo Ophey travelled...
Canvas, Oil
Reliable Presence
By Natalia Yangalycheva
Located in Zofingen, AG
Original painting by Natalia Yangalycheva Size: 96 × 109 cm Additional 5 cm of canvas on each side for stretching and framing Medium: Acrylic on canvas The artwork will be shipped ro...
Canvas, Acrylic
$728
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 0.6 in
"What about stereotypes?" 2 in the triptych. Decorative social art
By Momalyu Liubov
Located in Zofingen, AG
The second work of the triptych “What about stereotypes? ” Female silhouette combined with flowers - a decorative subject - but with a deep concept, a series of paintings were prese...
Canvas, Oil
Among Quiet Witnesses
By Natalia Yangalycheva
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, the boundaries between humanity and nature gently dissolve into a space of stillness and contemplation. A woman absorbed in her book sits among a flock of sheep—tim...
Canvas, Acrylic
"What about stereotypes?" Diptych.
By Momalyu Liubov
Located in Zofingen, AG
Female silhouette combined with flowers - a decorative subject - but with a deep concept, a series of paintings were presented in a thematic solo exhibition Europe. (Matisse-inspired...
Canvas, Oil
"Gathering the Mares, " Original Oil Painting
By Lani Vlaanderen
Located in Denver, CO
"Gathering the Mares," by Lani Vlaanderen, is a secondary market oil painting on canvas with one previous owner. This work is unframed and will require a frame. We can frame it for y...
Canvas, Oil
$17,063
H 64.57 in W 56.7 in D 3.15 in
17th Century Oil on Canvas Italian Painting Lamentation over the Dead Christ
Located in Vicoforte, IT
A great 17th-century religious painting. This painting oil on canvas depicts a poignant subject, highly popular in the Baroque era: The Lamentation over the Dead Christ. This intense...
Canvas, Oil
Renewal
By DARIA DUDOCHNYKOVA
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Renewal" is the gentle touch of the ocean where water and soul meet, merging in a dance of light and motion. The waves envelop and carry away into a realm of quiet magic, where ever...
Canvas, Oil
The ballet lover II
By Serghei Ghetiu
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I captured the quiet moment of focus and grace before a performance, using soft light to highlight her delicate form and dedication. The emotions of anticipation an...
Canvas, Oil
$7,500
H 29 in W 44 in
"Alpine Landscape with Mother and Children" Antique Oil Painting Europe Nature
Located in Austin, TX
Oil on canvas Canvas Size: 29 x 44 in. Frame Size: 36 x 51 in. Unsigned A marvelous antique oil on canvas painting, exemplary of Romantic Dutch painting that depicts a sweeping, dra...
Canvas, Oil
"Pierre Balmain Paris 122 Chantilly"
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Bristol, CT
Chic original watercolour couture fashion sketch replete w/ lace fabric swatch & note attached (LL) from the Paris atelier of Pierre Balmain c1960s Plate Sz: 12"H x 8 1/4"W Frame...
Watercolor
Sold
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
Vintage Balmain French Fashion Sketch - Couture Coat, c. 1960
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Original haute couture sketch of a blue and yellow coat by Parisian designer Pierre Balmain, circa 1960, featuring fascinating design details, suc...
Paper, Ink, Gouache
Sold
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.1 in
Vintage Balmain French Fashion Sketch - Couture Tennis Dress, c. 1960
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Original haute couture sketch of a tennis dress by Parisian designer Pierre Balmain, circa 1960, featuring a striking visual contrast between bold...
Paper, Ink, Gouache
Pierre Balmain Paris 433 Bangkok
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Bristol, CT
Chic original couture fashion plate by Pierre Balmain designed for the New York socialite, Nan Kempner (1930-2005) replete w/ two silk swatches circa 1970s Plate Sz: 12.25"H x 8.25"...
Gouache
Pierre Balmain Paris 122 Chantilly
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Bristol, CT
Chic original watercolour couture fashion sketch replete w/ lace fabric swatch & note attached (LL) from the Paris atelier of Pierre Balmain c1960s! Plate: 12 1/4"H x 8 1/4"W Frame: 16 3/4"H x 13"W Fashion Designer Bio: Perre Alexandre Claudius Balmain (1914-1982) was a well-known designer from France and the founder of Balmain fashion house. He was and still is known for his elegance and sophistication. Balmain studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts, but he spent most of his time designing apparel. From 1934-1939 Balmain worked with Edward Molyneux (fashion designer) who offered him a trial. Balmain then worked after the War with Lucien Lelong and established his own fashion house that displayed bell-shaped and small waist skirts. This was a look that became famous later on through the brand Christian Dior. A family friend, Gertrude Stein wrote a commemorative piece on Balmain for Vogue magazine and following this an order was placed by the Duchess of Windsor. By 1951, Balmain opened various branches of his label across America to sell his prêt-a-porter collections. During this time, he popularized some unique trends such as stoles, evening wear and he made sheath dresses with jackets a fad in the fashion market. He was talented in creating both simple and extravagant clothes, all with the similar aesthetics of graceful and slender lines. Pierre Balmain also created fragrances. For his astounding creations and designs, he was nominated for Best Costume Designer by the Tony Award and Balmain received the Drama Desk Award for designing outstanding costumes for Happy New Year Broadway production in 1980. He designed costumes for Sophia Loren for The Millionaires, 1960 and Josephine Baker for her eponymous revue, 1964. He designed costumes for sixteen films and designed clothes for actresses Mae West and Vivien Leigh. His classic couture dresses are still chic and sought after among international movie stars and socialites such as Kristin Davis...
Watercolor
Balmain Fashion Sketch
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
French haute couture sketch by Balmain fashion house, circa 1960. Original artwork on paper displayed on a white mat with a gold border. Mat fits...
Watercolor, Pencil
Sold
H 16 in W 0.1 in D 20 in
Vintage Balmain Fashion Sketch - Navy Dress Suit
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage gouache and pencil French fashion sketch of a elegant cress suit in navy blue by the famed Balmain Fashion House of Paris, circa 1960. Original artwork on paper displaye...
Gouache, Paper, Pencil
Sold
H 16 in W 0.1 in D 20 in
Vintage Balmain French Fashion Sketch - Lime Green Summer Dress
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage gouache and pencil French fashion sketch of a casual summer dress in a bold lime green hue by the famed Balmain Fashion House of Paris, c...
Gouache, Pencil
Vintage Balmain Mini Dresses Fashion Sketch
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Excellent one-of-a-kind gouache and ink fashion sketch of several variations of a casual mini dress by the French haute couture Balmain Fashion house of Paris, circa 1960. Origina...
Gouache, Paper
Sold
H 16 in W 0.1 in D 20 in
Vintage Balmain Spots & Stripes Fashion Sketch
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Charming one-of-a-kind gouache and ink fashion sketch of three variations of a sleeveless navy top by the haute couture Balmain Fashion House of Paris, circa 1960. Fabric swatch atta...
Gouache, Ink, Paper
Sold
H 16 in W 0.1 in D 20 in
Vintage Balmain Fashion Sketch - Lime Green Blazer
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage one-of-a-kind French watercolor and ink fashion sketch of a sporty, short sleeve blazer in lime green by the Parisian Balmain fashion house, circa 1960. Original artwork ...
Ink, Paper, Watercolor
Sold
H 12 in W 0.1 in D 16 in
Vintage Balmain Gouache Fashion Sketch - Red Dress Suit
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage one-of-a-kind haute couture gouache fashion sketch of a vivid red dress suit by the Parisian Balmain Fashion House, circa 1960. Original artwork on paper displayed on a wh...
Gouache, Paper