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.
$3,361Sale Price|40% Off
Pierre Balmain, Floor Lampe, circa 1955
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, FR
Floor lamp by Pierre Balmain in the 1950's. The Veil will be replace on request. The frame is made of white lacquered metal. The base is made of travertine. The original veil is s...
Travertine, Metal
Floor lamp with opaline glass. Italy, Stilnovo, c.1955.
By Stilnovo
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Floor lamp with opaline glass. Italy, Stilnovo, c.1955. Tripod floor lamp with a metal structure and brass detail. Opaline UFO-style glass with one E27 light fitting. Please note: ...
Metal
Franz West Privat Lampe II Floor Lamp, Welded Iron, Austria, 1989
By Franz West
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
Very famous light!!! Franz West’s provocative, boundary-pushing sculptures, lighting and furniture completely changes the way that art audiences interact with art that merges into f...
Iron
Pierre Guariche Floor Lamp
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Pierre Guariche "Cerf Volant" floor lamp model G30. France, 1951. Black lacquered metal feet, brass stem, black and white re-lacquered small metal shade, brass fixings. Bibliography - Patrick Favardin, "The decorators of the 50s", Éditions Norma, Paris, 2002, similar model reproduced on p.213 - C. & D. Krzentowski, "The Complete Designer's Lights II, 35 years of collections", Éditions JRP Ringier, Zürich, 2012, similar model reproduced on p.106 - Delphine Jacob, Lionel Blaisse, Aurélien Jeauneau, Pierre Guariche, Luminaires- Furniture-Interior Architecture, Éditions Norma, 2020, model reproduced pp...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
$14,400
H 52 in Dm 15 in
Gordon & Jane Martz Glazed Brown Gray Ceramic & Walnut Floor Lamp, circa 1955
By Gordon & Jane Martz
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A most magnificent Mid-Century Modern sculptural and layered Martz ceramic floor lamp with walnut shelf and base. Hand carved multidimensional glazed rings of hand painted brown and white hues give the floor lamp a sense of movement - like moving rings...
Brass
Brass, Marble X-Lampe Elfe Floor Lamp by Duen Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass, Marble X-Lampe Elfe Floor Lamp by Duen Studio Limited Edition of 5 Dimensions: W 13.5 x D 35 x H 178.9 cm, Removable round base(Dia: 50cm) Materials: Brass and Marble. Bulb :...
Marble, Brass
Jan Hoogervorst Floor Lamp, The Netherlands, circa 1955
By Stilnovo, J. J. M. Hoogervorst
Located in Vienna, AT
58" tall floor light by Jan Hoogervorst (1918-1984). Comprised of brass, lacquered brass and iron and red painted aluminum this lamp a beautiful exa...
Brass, Iron, Aluminum
Robert Mathieu Modernist Floor Lamp, France, 1955
By Robert Mathieu
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Robert Mathieu Modernist Floor Lamp, metal and parchment paper, France, 1955 Designed in 1955 by Robert Mathieu, this floor lamp reflects the clarity and refinement of French modern...
Metal
$4,500
H 93 in W 60 in D 8 in
PRIVAT LAMPE I Metal Abstract Floor Lamp (Prototype) / Franz West (Austria)
By Franz West
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
The Franz West Privat Lampe des Künstlers I is a functional floor lamp designed by the Austrian artist Franz West in 1989 for the Meta Memphis collection, characterized by its sculpt...
Iron
Pierre Cardin Chrome & Lucite Floor Lamp
By Pierre Cardin
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare, fabulous Art Deco Pierre Cardin lucite and chrome floor lamp, circa 1970. The design is reminiscent of the Mailbox Lamp designed in 1963 by Charles Hollis Jones, one of the lea...
Chrome
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 59.06 in W 16.15 in D 24.81 in
Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp by Pierre Guariche, France, Circa 1950
By Pierre Guariche
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Adjustable and folding lamp, with an iron magazine rack with cable cords and a bronze lamp support, attributed to Pierre Guarriche (1926 - 1995). Fra...
Metal, Iron
Stilnovo, Italy circa 1955, Adjustable Floor Lamp
By Stilnovo
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Stilnovo, Italy, circa 1955. A floor lamp with marble foot supporting an angled upright stem with large red uplighter on top and a pivoting brass arm terminating in a yellow enamelle...
Marble, Metal
Schliephacke Floor Lamp Aluminum for Mewa, circa 1955
By Fridtjof Schliephacke
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare 76" geometrical floor light from aluminum and cast iron Known as the 'Berliner Bratpfanne' it's published and exhibited in many design collections and museums. Articulate alum...
Aluminum, Iron