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.
$4,238Sale Price|20% Off
Carpet designed by Pierre Balmain France 1970s for Van Neder
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Firenze, FI
This carpet, designed by Pierre Balmain in the 1970s in France, is a rare example of the "Kyoto" pattern and was produced in Belgium by the Van Neder company. Worked in wool, it has...
Wool
Pierre Balmain Designed Modernist Wool Carpet
By Pierre Balmain
Located in New York, NY
A Pierre Balmain designed modernist wool carpet. Composed of a black background with a decorative tan border surrounding the central composition of th...
Wool
Rug designed by Pierre Balmain for Van Neder Carpets, 1980s
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Brussels, BE
Rug designed by Pierre Balmain for Van Neder Carpets, 1980s
Fabric
$1,883Sale Price|42% Off
Carpet by Pierre Balmain for Van Neder Carpets, 1980s
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Pierre Balmain wool rug designed for Van Neder Carpets.
Wool
German 1960s Designed Wool Blue and Green Pop Art Carpet by Vorwerk
Located in Antwerp, BE
Abstract City landscape Carpet in multi colors blue, grey, black, green, red and yellow.Large Impressive Vorwerk Manufacturer,Germany. In original very good condition. This is such a...
Wool
Tisca Hand-Tufted Wool Rug, Modern Design, France, 1980s, 240x170 cm
By Tisca Tischhauser 1
Located in Debrecen, HU
This distinctive Tisca wool rug was produced in the French Tisca workshops during the 1980s, a period when the company supplied high-quality architectural textiles for modern interio...
Wool
Original Woolen Rug Designed by Verner Panton for Desso, Holland 1970s
By Verner Panton, Desso
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an original vintage rug design by Verner Panton for Desso in the mid 1970s. The rug is part of the Romatica collect...
Wool
$76,530
W 88.59 in L 113 in
French Art Deco Rug Designed by Jean Burkhalter for Pierre Chareau Circa 1925
By Jean Burkhalter
Located in Milan, IT
An extremely rare Art Deco rug designed in 1925 by Jean Burkhalter and commissioned by Pierre Chareau for a seaside mansion on the island of Corsica....
Wool
Rug designed by Sofia Rostad for Louis De Poortere , 1970s.
By Zofia Butrymowicz
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Large 'art rug with colorful geometric patterns designed by Sofia Rostad for Louis De Poortere , 1970s. Composition: 100% polyamide, made in Belgium. Excellent condition, in shades ...
Nylon
1980s Gorgeous Geometric Italian Woolen Rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous rug by Missoni for T&J Vestor. Pure wool Made in Italy. In excellent condition like new. Signed at the bottom. This rug is a true example of amazing Italian design. It...
Wool
Missoni wool rug for T & J Vestor Italia - 1980s
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni carpet with geometric design inspired by the chevron pattern, very characteristic of his style. Carpet from the 1980s made of wool by the T & J Vestor company. Chevr...
Wool
$1,319Sale Price|40% Off
W 85.04 in L 114.18 in
7x9.5 Ft Decorative Hand-Knotted Area Rug. Vintage European Design Wool Carpet
Located in Spring Valley, NY
A finely hand-knotted vintage Turkish carpet from 1960s. The rug has even low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is heavy and lays flat on the floor, in very good condition with no i...
Wool, Cotton
Durrie wool carpet "31 Oct" Cecilia Setterdahl for Carpets CC
By Carpets CC
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Carpet Name: "Sisters" The ' Sisters' carpet takes inspiration from all the strong women that make their voices heard during 2018. The faces are made in strict graphic form, with...
Wool
$1,883Sale Price|20% Off
W 118.12 in L 78.75 in
1980s Italian Woven Pure Wool "Arlequine" Rug Ottavio Missoni for T&J Vestor
By Ottavio Missoni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ottavio Missoni "Arlequine" vintage rug made in the 80s in pure virgin wool by the company T&J Vestor, founded in 1921 by Rosita Missoni, and now acquired by Missoni Home. This beaut...
Wool
Original Modernist colorful Carpet with Bold Geometric Design
Located in New York City, NY
Abstract bold patterned geometric, vintage carpet in colorful shades of russet, greens, ochres, gold, browns. Square and rectangular overlays and color blocking represented on this M...
Wool, Yarn
Handwoven Tulip Design Rug by Nea Hållfast, Wool, Scandinavian, 1970s
By Klockaregardens Hemslojd Scandinavian
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Swedish rug in the “Tulip” design by Nea Hållfast for Klockaregårdens Hemslöjd studio, (Sweden, Circa 1970s) has a light fox-brown field with 15 hori...
Wool
Wool Rug by Pierre Balmain
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Antwerp, BE
Balmain, a Parisian couturier designed this exceptional wool rug. This eclectic decorative piece would look good in a Hollywood Regency inspired interior Dimensions 200 x 300 cm. Lab...
Wool
Pierre Balmain Rug
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Impressive rectangular wool rug designed by couturier Pierre Balmain. Dimensions 240 x 170 cm (94.5 x 67 inch). Featuring the original label "Pierre Balmain Paris". France 19...
Wool