Balmain
A walk on the wild side at Paris Fashion Week
Balmain’s Fall/Winter 2017-2108 Collection opened Paris Fashion Week strong, with a collection that says quite clearly “I am woman, hear me roar.” Creative Director Olivier Rousteing presented an impressive procession of Amazon princess warrior women decked out in opulent glittery ensembles that bring to mind a heavy metal tribal goddess. Gigi Hadid opened the show, followed by Jourdan Dunn, Lily Donaldson and, of course, Kendall Jenner, in gorgeous suede, leather, snakeskin thigh-high boots, fur jackets, plus very cool gold lip cuffs and lots and lots of animal prints.
In fact, the inspiration for these designs was 1990s Nirvana, according to Olivier Rousteing: “I was just a kid during Nirvana’s heyday, but their powerful music of rebellion definitely marked me then—and continues to resonate with me today. Those liberating lyrics advised us to ignore guidelines of what’s expected and remain true to ourselves. It’s that same mindset that propels today’s strong women as they march down the runway. They’ve embarked on the perfect road trip, picking up influence while traveling across the globe’s most awe-inspiring landscapes—the Serengeti, the Far West, Amazonia.”
You can watch the full Balmain Fall/Winter 2017-2108 Collection Runway Show above.
