Another show, another boiling hot show venue. Here, it at least felt theme appropriate. Jungle fever style foliage climbed wall to ceiling, right up to the chandeliers and the models’ hair was gelled back, as if wading through a lagoon.
Olivier Rousteing's creative output at Balmain might be about people, but, my goodness, there were a lot of clothes here. The Balmain army were delivered a multitude of options for S/S 17. It was a never ending runway of lurex crochet, ruched olive chiffon, brown draped suede, jewel coloured snakeskin, silk kimono jackets, rust coloured capes and paper bag waists. Gowns came in tuxedo form, athletic or strappy.
The Balmain 'Jolie Madame' waistline was cinched in with wide metallic snakeskin belts, whilst some pockets in a Grecian dress added a modern ease. This collection had an eclectic seventies vibe. Some of the joyous lurex woven stripes reminded one of the fun that Missoni could be having - if only they would get with some disco. Rousteing definitely offered a wardrobe rather than a singular creative proposition; a lamé chain mail section alone felt like that it could have been a collection in its own right.
The sweaters were a welcome reprieve from all the dresses. One was purposefully cut off the shoulder, athletically sculpting the form. Shoulders featured as the main erogenous style zone.
Kim Kardashian's face was one of the pieces of imagery used for the invitations, and she was naturally there to vibe muse-on-muse with her buddy. The show music was also full of huge female personas. The sounds of Rihanna, Adele, Britney Spears, Tori Amos and Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan all empowered, bewitched and entertained. The casting was, as ever, an incredibly positive example of what is possible when representing women within fashion.
