Dear Shaded Viewers,
Beauty took the stage at Balmain’s SS25 show earlier this week in Paris. Fresh off the back of Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain Beauty launch, here beauty becomes a central theme, interwoven into the fashion house’s signature design codes.
Rousteing’s decade-long tenure at Balmain has left a lasting impression. However, this season’s exaggerated shoulder lines evoked strong memories of the brand’s transformation under his predecessor, Christophe Decarnin. Rousteing has long championed this modern Balmain signature. While the conical-capped silhouette was undeniably nostalgic, the French designer also showcased his own evolution of the brand with more relaxed silhouettes, refined tailoring, and of course dramatic eveningwear, which the brand is well known for. “We’ve kept this collection extremely focused, with the goal of ensuring that every design is immediately recognizable as containing key strands of the DNA of today’s modern Balmain,” Rousteing says in his show notes.
Beauty being the central theme, various looks were embellished with the image of a red-lipped face with a manicured hand, made up of a shimmering mosaic of pearlescent beads, thus creating the detailed facial patterns. This beading technique was ever-present int he collection making its way unto high shouldered jackets and mini skirts. The sand dress made for South African singer Tyla for this year’s MET Gala also made a return in the form of a sculpted top and dress in a lush marbled dusky pink hue.
The show culminated with a powerful statement: a group of models graced the runway in understated silk sheaths, each a different neutral hue. Rousteing expressed his fondness for these final looks, proclaiming them the epitome of Balmain’s iconic ethos “the inspiring diversity of beauty that is constantly celebrated within our inclusive Balmain Army.”
Later,
Bethany
Bethany Berkeley
Bethany is a fashion writer bringing different perspectives to the world of fashion. Beyond trends, she continuously delves into the cultural and social impact of style. Her insightful reviews and interviews are the perfect mix of inspirational and informative.
