Balmain F/W 2022.23 Paris

[Deleted member 1957]

A few of the pieces are going to look great worn separately like some of the biker jackets but in general it feels too repetitive, I miss the almost casual high fashion vibe he started with when he made those amazing denim pieces worn with leather jackets. Maybe he should move to Off-white and go back to a more streetwear style.

 

[Salvatore]

Maybe he should move to Off-white and go back to a more streetwear style.

Humm, never thought of it and perhaps Olivier would think it is beneath him, but that could probably work really well.

 

[Lola701]

Very passé, very dated… Very Rad Hourani/Gareth Pugh from more than 10 years ago.
There are some great pieces but it’s maybe time for Rousteing to strip things back and maybe go back to a certain classicism. He hasn’t explored that side of Balmain ever…Really inspired by Couture.

This felt desperate because of the things from 12 years ago and the mix with current fashion. No vision at all…
The Balmain woman/man is definitely a fashion victim.

 

[LostInNJ]

It looks like costumes from a dystopian Netflix series. Absolutely unwearable and impractical. We saw body armor at Dior and now here. It has no place on the runway at this particular time. It’s not only obvious, but also tasteless. I hate to bring political correctness into the fold, but there are real people in the streets of Ukraine wearing body armor as necessity and not a fashion statement. The women who buy Balmain have nothing in common with the people that would need to wear those items in real life. Overall the collection is bloated and lacking in original ideas. I believe that Olivier has reached the peak of his creativity for Balmain. It was exciting at the beginning, unfortunately it abruptly plateaued. I can’t say I’m surprised. 10 years is a long time to spend at a house. There comes a point in time when a designer should move on to a new challenge. The next move for him should be launching his own brand with a new set of house codes. I don’t see the Balmain getting any better than this.

I will say, he acknowledged the timing of everything in the show notes and IG...this collection, as well as Dior's, was designed and developed months ago. Personally, I think he did a good job of addressing what he sent down and remaining sensitive to the current situation.

John Galliano had some Middle Eastern references in his show that came out the season the 9/11 attacks occurred, and I do believe there was a bit of blow-back on that, but again, we need to separate the two.

While I don't think it was a groundbreaking show, it does seem like he is taking the house (at least with this collection) in a different direction. Perhaps after last seasons anniversary collection/show he decided now is the time to explore other avenues. Which, to be fair, is exactly what people on TFS criticize other designers for NOT doing. So, for that, I give him credit. I wasn't fussed by the casting, personally, because I can recognize the value in trying to move forward.

 

[disco54]

Its very 2009-2011 but this is not even attractive , who wants to look like a hybrid between a Transformer and a maxi pad?

 

[upNorth]

I really hate all of this, and I hate where he's taken the Balmain brand. Hate is a strong word, but nothing here in this collection makes any sense to me.

 

[blackcherrified]

I already see a perfect customer for this collection- Lil Nas X

 

[billiejbob]

Starlight Express but make it boring

 

[vogue28]

Olivier Rousteing truly lost me with this collection, and I am also starting to feel he's hit his creative peek at Balmain. This just brings nothing new to the table, is drastically subpar compared to previous seasons and I'm seeing more Julien McDonald than Balmain. A massive, truly massive miss.