Balmain's Christophe Decarnin in Mental Hospital *Update* Has Officially Left Balmain

[brooksie]

^^^You've missed my point completely. Karl Lagerfeld worked behind the scenes up until he took over Chanel for all intents and purposes. He got to mature as a person and hone his craft before becoming a superstar . He was NOT handed a fashion label at a super young age nor did he design under his own name until much later....that makes a huge difference. It says less about him than the times he operated in during his development. In short, he was NOT subjected to the scrutiny that later designers faced during their earliest years . Obviously every era has it's negative issues, but I wasn't talking about that. I'm talking specifically about the role of the media in playing kingmaker whilst looking for "the next big thing". Karl had his challenges and the new gen has theirs...some are the same, but others are different in nature. That doesn't imply that I pity these designers, methinks.

Only Yves Saint Laurent from Lagerfeld's gen experienced anything like what modern designers do...and look at how that worked out. I doubt he anticipated his horrific Dior tenure and subsequent events when he took the job. The personal costs to him were great, but a singular case from that era. Now it's all too common.

I'm not so sure these people know what they're getting into either. What they dream of and what they get are often two different things, I suspect. How could they really know until they get there? People never know what they can handle and how well until they're in the thick of it. "Poor designers"...not a bit of it. However it's too easy to sit up and assume that it's all down simply to what an individual wants vs the realities of the system they enter.d

 

[mackos]

I'm so sorry for him, it sounds really bad. I hope he get better soon

 

[MUXU]

decarnin always seemed bit fragile. of course mental illness is not to be joked about, hope he finds a way to deal with the problems.

i always felt one needs to be a bit anti-fashion to work in fashion, or any industry really. the ability to be involved but not engulfed, is a very fine line. one needs to be able to laugh at one self and the industry they work in. but of course, the pressure from authority don't make doing that easier.

i agree karl and muiccia are two high profile fashion personalities who had managed to do a good job at balancing. karl, in a way pretty much became a caricature of himself, and that disguise probably help him get detached from the media. muiccia never seemed to wear her heart on her sleeves, and like chloehandbags said, she concocts fashion in test tubes.

 

[thedanae]

Front page on tFS: Has Christophe Decarnin Gone Mad? (Forum Buzz)

 

[tigerrouge]

Has he "gone mad"? Well, no, because he's not a character in a Victorian melodrama, he's a real person spending some time in a specialised environment getting the help he needs, but describing things in a reasonable way doesn't create good headlines.

 

[McClaire]

Poor guy. I hope his family is behind him and he has all the support he needs.

 

[rox_yr_sox]

Another one bites the dust...



show studio/fashin

 

[NakedIfIWantTo]

Sad

 

[mackos]

Oh. Now that's a question who'll replace him.

 

[CielDeLit]

He used to do great things at Balmain, no matter how were the last collections, he rejuvenated the brand and he deserves credit for it..I wish him all the best for what's next and hope he gets well soon !

 

[agee]

After all this, I really wish the matter regarding his health had not become public.

 

[Label Basher]

So sad. He had been looking worst for wear. I hope he gets the help and support he needs.

 

[Eccentricity]

hope hes ok

 

[educo]

This is so sad yet, expected. No one goes to a mental hospital and comes back to the environment that probably put him there in the first place.

 

[Salvatore]

Creative industries of any sort can (and sometimes will) eat up the fragile. It will be good for him to take some breath of fresh airs.

It's not surprising, but I am curious to see how the label will develop now.

 

[MON]

This is sad. I hope he turns up well. The only question remaining is, who`ll replace him. He did Balmain wonders

 

[papillote]

I'm surprised no one posted it, the new designer is Olivier Rousteing, he's been working for Balmain since 2009.
Here's his official picture :

style.com

 

[Eccentricity]

yum^

dont u get the impression balmain doesnt want a conceptual designer and more needs a fashion editor/ head brand ambassador?

 

[Dkammern]

He transpires youth and rock&roll. That's all Balmain requires.
He'll have the french touch, with the Cavalli sexed up experience. I have a feeling he will be perfect!

 

[educo]

Hmmm, he's a fine boy, isn't he?? Let's see what he's gonna come up with...