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.
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
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
$1,859Sale 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
$4,182Sale 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
Missoni Post-Modern Wool Rug, 1980s, Italy, Signed
By Missoni Home, Missoni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Attention interior designers, this is the rug you need for that high-profile cover-worthy room you're working on. This signed Missoni rug is from the 1980s Italy and in an oh-so-on-t...
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
JAB Carpet From The 1970s By Georg Hesse
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare wool carpet designed in the Germany in the 1970 by Georg Hesse for Jab-Teppiche, model 'Aika', no. 407/023. No. 26. Square. Virgin wool, knotted, circular motif in black, brown...
Wool
$1,301Sale Price|20% Off
W 66.93 in L 94.49 in
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
1970's Carpet
Located in Brecht, BE
In really good vintage condition, this carpet in wool, vibrant colors ... has been dry cleaned ... so ready to use.
Wool
$378Sale Price / item|25% Off
W 64.97 in L 90.56 in
Mustard colour Dhurrie Wool Rug by Cecilia Setterdahl for Carpets CC
By Carpets CC
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Design Title: "31st October Yellow" Carpets CC is the carpet design brand of Cecilia Setterdahl. She uses bold colours and geometrical forms to create besp...
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
Rare and Decorative Cogolin Wool Carpet, France, 1970
By Cogolin
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
High and low loop pile carpet. Featuring a variety of circles. Hand-knotted, Cogolin, France, circa 1970.
Wool
$5,304Sale Price|20% Off
W 120 in L 156 in
Antique Hand-Knotted Portuguese Carpet, Floral Design, Wool, 1920
Located in Port Washington, NY
This is a hand-knotted, finely woven antique Portuguese carpet, having a all-over floral pattern. Measures: 10 x 13.
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
$75,522
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
Missoni carpet for T&J Vestor
By Missoni
Located in Milano, IT
Large wool carpet featuring designs by the renowned fashion house Missoni, founded by Ottavio Missoni, for T&J Vestor, a company specializing in manufacturing for prominent fashion b...
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