Balmain

One of the key figures in the fashion world and an honored member of the High Fashion Syndicate - Balmain (Balmen) still sets the canon of contemporary French chic. Over its more than half a century history, the brand has experienced many ups and downs. The only thing that remains unchanged - to the grace and elegance that Balmain things radiate, it is impossible to remain indifferent.

From early childhood, the designer and founder of the brand Pierre Balmain (Pierre Balmen) confidently walked towards the fate of a professional couturier. He received a first-class school, working as an assistant with the leading fashion designers of the time - Eduard Molyneux and Lucien Lelong, including collaborating with novice Christian Dior.

Immediately after the Second World War, in 1945, Pierre Balmen opened his own studio. Hungry for a chic life during the war and devastation, Paris gladly accepted the master’s first collection - sophisticated dresses made of shiny fabric with a bodice on a whalebone, piles of silk flying tulle and lace, sophisticated multilayer hand embroidery with glass beads, rhinestones, artificial stones and pearls. It was this couturier who introduced the classic silhouette of an evening dress, subsequently the monopolized Dior - a combination of an aspen waist with a fluffy bell skirt.

In the wake of success at home, Balman is trying to realize himself overseas. In 1950, the first Balmain boutique was opened in New York - the first specialized fashion store of its kind in America. The couturier’s idea was particularly successful in paving the way for success through blue screens - the designer actively collaborates with Hollywood, creates costumes for the hits of the film industry and dresses actresses of the first magnitude - Bridget Bardot, Marlene Dietrich, Vivien Leigh, Carol Baker and others.

The frenzied popularity and commercial success of the brand, despite its sky-high prices and its focus on high society representatives, has been haunting Balmain for almost two decades. It was this couturier that was favored by the aristocracy and persons of royal blood, world celebrities and celebrities. Gradually the collections expanded: refined and stylish shoes, accessories, and a line of perfumes were added.

The production of branded watches stood out in a separate direction - a joint work of Balmain and the largest Swiss watch company Swatch Group. One of Pierre's assistants was, subsequently, the famous Karl Lagerfeld.

But, by the beginning of the 70s, the brand began not to keep pace with the changing current trends in fashion and to lose ground. The pomposity and pretentiousness of the style, the high cost of manual decoration was inferior to the restrained simplicity of competitors - in the first place, Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent. In an effort to maintain their position, Pierre Balman and his right hand Eric Mortensen, who became the head of the brand after the founder’s death in 1982, launched pret-a-porte clothing.

Until the early 2000s, the brand was going through tense times. Despite a number of design awards and selected successful collections, frequent public attention is not attracted. The commercial condition of the house reached the point that Balmain was put up for auction several times and was forced to massively sell licenses to everyone in a row. Management, owners and leading designers are changing like in a kaleidoscope, but no significant improvements have occurred.

In 2005, the house gained new perspectives with the advent of creative director Christoph Descartes, who had worked with Paco Rabanne for many years. He managed to successfully rebrand the brand, while maintaining the traditional philosophy of sophisticated femininity and luxury. Balmain's new, trendy and sophisticated outfits have again become a regular companion to red carpet and social life. Since 2008, the brand began producing men's clothing - an aggressive sporty style and strict minimalist suits quietly coexist in collections with each other.

In 2011, the state of health forced Descarten to hand over the post to the young talented Olivier Rusten, who consolidated his success and developed Balmain's prospects in the fashion world with bold and extravagant ideas. Open dresses, sundresses, T-shirts - formal suits, biker leather jackets and suede jackets, an abundance of rivets and rhinestones, skillful play with relief and embroidery, ethnic and rock and roll motifs of the latest collections help create a unique, stylish and sexy look for an already modern dynamic person . A number of steps have been taken towards democratizing the brand, for example, joint collections with H&M.

Today, Balmain women's and men's clothing can be characterized as Art Deco - strict dress geometry and eclectic style. The spring-summer collection 2017 stood out with an unexpected lack of embroidery. The redundancy of parts traditional for the brand was manifested in the ingenious interweaving of cutouts - although, in comparison with previous years, the designer reduced the rate of aggressive eroticism.

The collection includes:

• corset bustier dresses;
• pencil skirts, jeans or tight pants with a massive belt at the waist;
• overalls, stockings and blouses laced on the chest, silk tunics and rich drapery T-shirts decorated with rhinestones;
• flying chiffon dresses with slits to the thigh.

The style is dominated by muted and warm sandy shades, Egyptian themes, austere things with graphic prints. Among the accents, Olivier Rusten left the characteristic knitted fabrics, llama, silk, velvet and mesh.

One of the radical decisions of Olivier Rusten in the Balmain concept was deliberate rudeness of shoes. The relevance of the trend captured not only celebrity, but also gained popularity among the masses.Comfortable, stylish and practical demi-season boots with carefully calibrated block, optimal for comfortable walking.

Genuine leather is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also gets much less soiled. The external rudeness of the model does not spoil the owner's legs, carefully emphasizing their fragility and harmony.

Fashionable women enjoy summer denim boots with boots.

Since 1995, the Swatch Group holding has fully redeemed all exclusive rights to Balmain watch products. Today, the production center is located in the famous city of watchmakers Saint-Imier in the canton of Jura, according to the most stringent Swiss quality requirements.

The magnificence of the decor of exquisite dresses is perfectly complemented by a dial decorated with branded arabesque - the brand's patented business card. The ruler is considered to be the standard of style Elysées. Among the truly elegant works of art, every woman needs to pay attention to Pierre Balmain and Chronolady diamonds. Their unique design goes well with both business and youth trends in the fashion world and is not subject to the destructive running of time.

The Balmain Paris signature perfume will help to fully and comprehensively express your individuality. At the beginning of each season, a special collection of aromas is released, filled with both restrained traditional and bright non-standard novelties. Makeup brand includes professional hair extensions and hair care products. Ready-made and convenient solutions for false hair will help prepare the hairstyle for a new, more effective look.

Under the brand name of Balmain, many additional accessories are also available that combine traditional style, luxury and practicality. Umbrella canes and folding mechanical models, pens, wallets, etc. Even such a trifle as a signature comb has a significant impact on the harmonious drawing up of an integral and refined image.

Customers are delighted with brand products. This is clearly evidenced by numerous enthusiastic reviews on thematic and general forums. Clothing, shoes and accessories of the brand at first glance conquer with its stylish look and luxury. When new collections appear on the shelves, real lines gather in front of boutiques and specialized online stores are inundated with orders.

The main thing that is unanimously noted in all reviews is that when confronted with the original Balmain, it strikes an exceptional quality of work. Flawless flashing of each seam, filigree finish. The materials are carefully selected, very soft and pleasant to the touch. Despite the secular specifics of products, things are extremely socks, hardy and comfortable in everyday life.

Periodically, users note two negative points - a rather high price and a high probability of encountering a fake (in the absence of a trusted supplier).