Balmain Pre-Fall 2023 Paris | the Fashion Spot

Balmain Pre-Fall 2023 Paris

vogue28

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It's one of his better collections. I like that he goes all out for his pre-collections.
The styling and photography of this lookbook are really strong.

I like his take on the classical bourgeois look. And he updated the Parisian look, and make it look fresh.
I can see a hint of YSL here and there for both men and women.

The logo stuff can go straight to the bin cause they kill the mood of a really strong collection.

This is the right direction for him.
 
Good for him for being able to dive into such OTT, ridiculously-ostentatious, jewel-encrusted embroidery for pre-fall…

His usual walking-Faberge designs and the silk scarf as blouse/dress/pant are as uncompromisingly, untouchably, unapologetically stunning as they are gaudy/tacky/OTT. He’s so unwaveringly committed, it’s admirable.

(Unfortunately, along with the logos, the men’s need to be burned. All that’s missing is the feather on a fedora to complete the look.)
 
you can't look at that first ten and seriously tell me this is only... pre-fall??

yuck. no restraint whatsoever. this is just OTT (derogatory).
 
It is over the top and tacky, but there a lot of glamourous clothes here , the accessories and shoes are appealing.
 
I like the nods to Decarnin and the more pared back glamourous pieces. The rest I could kind of do without, but from a branding/SM perspective I get it. This is very "now".

Hate that bloody logo print. It's so ugly and pointless.

Men's should have been a third of the looks. Editing still isn't Olivier's strong suit which is going to be needed if he is shifting and updating his vision for Balmain.
 
Honestly I feel that his aesthetic was strongest in that 2018 - 2020 era. His collections were quite long, but every look seemed to have a purpose and the settings were often quite simplistic.

Nowadays, with the fusion of Menswear and Womenswear along with the simplification of the runway looks to be better read on concert-like runways, his collections feel like a drag to watch.
 
It’s not bad per se but it’s very confusing when you have so many styles at once. I like the 70s euro jet-set looks and some of the bejeweled pieces, which are tacky as ever, but interesting to look at.

The logo pieces could be a line of their own: just name it «Nouveau Riche».
 
I like it :ninja: not all of it but this ostentatious opulence, pardon me the hyperbole, tingles my fancy.

imagine some of these clothes in one of those Vogue Paris editorials styled by Carine? sigh
 
I do like a lot of it. Some of the logo/monogram pieces are actually well done, others should have been left for just the buyers.

The menswear does not translate as well and is not as convincing. It needs some serious editing. It's a bit too Vegas costume/Michael Jackson on stage.

Not that Allesandro was the most original but some of the looks are very suspiciously Gucci-esque
 
I'm always amazed at the sheer volume of output. Not that it's good or bad, just, there's so much of it.
 
^^^ Other brands like Armani/Dolce/Chanel are just as excessive in their offerings. They’ve secured a solid customer-base that’s steeped in wealth and can easily afford to buy buy buy.

And it’s that combination of knowing and designing for the excessive lifestyle and maximalism aesthetic of his clientele— and in a relatively short period of time compared to the other older brands, while still seemingly remaining true, passionate to his work; because the bliss and enthusiasm for fashion comes through consistently in his offerings, is a testimont to his well-earned success. His Balmain may not be my preference, but there’s no denying how he puts his all into every offering, even these off-Season collections. Of course there are always basic, logo/monogram merch— but they’re necessary evils for any brand to survive these days, especially a brand as high-profile as Balmain. He’s gone well above and beyond every single collection to offer his overwrought, maximalist all. Frankly, if people didn’t see the Balmain x Oliver Rousteing brand before seeing the fashions, they may find themselves surprisingly impressed by the unbridled opulence, solid craftsmanship of these designs, and…like it.
 

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