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Opulent, Elegant Armour
The first collection from Balmain featured long, full skirts and cinched-in waistlines. It was a feminine and elegant look, almost a feminized army uniform, which was much admired from the offset.
Some of Balmain’s early clients included Brigitte Bardot, Katherine Hepburn and the Queen of Thailand. Since it’s earliest days Balmain has been favoured by royal and celebrity clientele. This is also true today.
The Balmain Story
Building the Foundations of Postwar Fashion
In Paris, the world’s fashion epicentre, Pierre Balmain grew up in a post-war fashion environment. His father owned a drapery business, and his mother worked in a Parisian fashion boutique. Perhaps these influences sparked the young man’s lifelong interest in the industry, and ignited his considerable talent for design.
He headed to university to study architecture, but by all accounts his interests lay elsewhere and he spent more time drawing clothes than studying buildings. He never completed his studies, though they left some impression on him – one of Balmain’s oft quoted remarks is that dressmaking is ‘the architecture of movement.’
Balmain was drafted into service during the war and there he befriended a fellow Parisian designer, Christian Dior. Like Dior he established his own fashion house, the House of Balmain, on his return and he launched his first collection in 1945.
Pierre Balmain at his inspiring work
Balmain Couture house in Paris
Signature Style
Balmain has evolved and modernised on its original style over the years. Pierre Balmain’s designs were elegant and feminine. Subsequent designers have followed his lead. The similarities are there: the structured, waist-cinching silhouettes of the first collections are echoed in the body-shaping contoured styles of today. Full skirts also still feature.
Balmain has modernised and retains the elegance of the original collections, while catering for a new generation of fashion-forward celebrities. The current collections are favoured by, for example rapper Nicki Minaj who is know for a tough-chic, edgy image.
Balmain Spring/Summer Collection 2017
Balmain Today
The Rise of the #BalmainArmy
Balmains recent collections have created an entirely new army-inspired trend look. Fans are so devoted that they openly proclaim to be part of the #balmainarmy. Think clothing mostly in darker colours such as navy and black, accented with luxurious detailing, often gold. Gold buttons on military-style jackets, gold piping and gold toe-capped boots, and, most famously, the opulently embellished body-con armor dress.
Today we consider Balmain to be one of the most influential fashion brands in the world. Becoming a legitimate member of the #balmainarmy by owning one of the signature pieces is the aspiration of many a fan.
Balmain Kids – Marching Into the Future
Balmain Kids may be one of the first children lines created based on popular demand. After creating a few bespoke pieces for child celebrities, such as North West, the daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, fans begged the brand to create a kids collection so they could follow suit. To meet the requests of parents who had ‘repeatedly pleaded’ with creative director Oliver Rousteing, Balmain launched Balmain KIDS in January 2016.
The children’s clothing is similar to the adult lines, so clients can enjoy ‘mini me’ versions of house classics. In the children’s range one can find military tough-chic, mostly dark colours accentuated with luxurious touches of gold, embroidery and crystal embellishment.
Balmain Kids is rare and virtually unavailable outside of the brand’s own boutiques. Here in Europe, Barbara Frères is honoured, and thrilled, to be among the few boutiques trusted to handle Balmain.
Perfect For Kids Who…
Want to be little fashion leaders.
SNEAK PEAK: Barbara Frères Shooting for Balmain
SNEAK PEAK: Barbara Frères Shooting for Balmain
Balmain Kids @ Barbara Frères
Balmain Kids is rare and virtually unavailable outside of the brand’s own boutiques. Here in Europe, Barbara Frères is honoured, and thrilled, to be among the few boutiques trusted to handle Balmain.
Yesterday evening we launched the new Balmain Kids Summer Collection 2017 in our boutique in Düsseldorf to press and bloggers and to regional customers.
Online Launch in our Shopable Online Magazine
Monday · 19. Januar 2017 · 2 pm
