Olivier Rousteing - Designer

[MulletProof]

and I just knew it was picked by Ye.

and pretty much how we all knew that was a lavender marriage.😶‍🌫️

I can't believe it's been 14-16 years already.. he could have a future at Elie Saab, but I hope he takes a break.. that's a long time for anyone in any job without a sabbatical (lol).

.. also.. why are we using the worst bottom-feeders as reliable industry sources? (aka. that Pisano guy).

 

[Lola701]

100% agree with this. Wasn't he at Cavalli before, also ? I think that with the proper stylist and team and him diving into the archives of Gianni, he'd be capable. Moreso than Tisci, I feel Versace is fit for him. Olivier was obsessed with the time that Karl was into Gianni's work so it is a bit circular, but I also feel he'd throw in some more tame and minimalist sensibilities with the right stylist. His last work at Balmain was more minimal.

So is this effective immediately, or will he do a final proper show ?

Yes he was at Cavalli. So he is used to dramatic Italian people running the show.

He is capable. The look I posted is the proof that he can do chic, sexy and modern. Even his last collection. Those aren’t clothes that will look dated in 10 years.

But he needs a good team, a good stylist.
When Zanotti stopped doing the shoes, the footwear became atrocious. There are enough great bag designers at Prada to have them switch over at Versace.

The hobo bags from his last show were good too btw.
Next sale season, I’m going to get something Balmain. I like him but not that much to buy full retail.

But yes, the Gianni/Karl connection seems obvious even though I find those Chanel references tired.

I think Prefall 2026 will likely be his last collection. But SS2026 was surely his last show.
He deserved a farewell though. He has been there since 2009.

 

[alwaysademo]

and pretty much how we all knew that was a lavender marriage.😶‍🌫️

It was love though. I just watched Kim on Call her Daddy, when she talked about Ye she seems sad still.

 

[MulletProof]

It was love though. I just watched Kim on Call her Daddy, when she talked about Ye she seems sad still.

Oh from her to him, totally. The other way around?....😬

 

[alwaysademo]

Oh from her to him, totally. The other way around?....😬

But he was sweet in a way no other straight man can. Remember his birthday gifts? A hologram of her dad telling her how proud he was? I sobbed and sobbed.

 

[AFWQ]

It's digging up time on social media! (Source: pYSLrada)

 

[jeanclaude]

I think he would be a perfect fit for Hallmark, he is a master when it comes to being creative with cardboard.

Also...now with more time in his hands, he could choose if he wants to look full Naomi; or go and get the full Milli Vanilli route (both at the same time is not working at all).

 

[PDFSD]

It's digging up time on social media! (Source: pYSLrada)

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love a good side by side..... clock it sis!!!

 

[PDFSD]

my favorite looks of balmain is :
as it symbolizes what Tina turner sang so wisely ....WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO !!!!


Christophe Decarnin was the real deal the tacky cool revival of Balmain..what we got after was the Wang era with better couture cardboard techniques.

Good bye, thank you
thank you ...
Thank you.

 

[susseinmcswanny]

Regardless of it being atrocious, for some reason a major pop culture moment for me was when he did his first couture show at Balmain. I feel like that collection in particular really drove home to housewives and adjacent people that "volume + embroidery = good"

 

[blackcherrified]

I confess, I loveeee Olivier’s tenure in Balmain and I’ve bought quite a few of his creations

Imo the issue with Balmain is due to their merchandising strategy. They had a really good run with those “basic b*tch” triple-metal-buttons logo tank tops/T-shirts (I own one and thinking of getting another since I’ve outgrown it), but they ignored chances to develop and promote treasures like the Bbox line (Balmain’s answer to Chanel’s Classic Flap), the initial B-Army 42 line with the leather accents on the side of the bag (their VERY REASONABLY PRICED answer to Dior’s Book tote), and even the Balmain × Aurelie Bidermann line, which is a predecessor of the Miu Miu Beau (fine, it’s a dupe of Hermes Victoria). Even for the formal suits they could have done something like what Givenchy had done during final leg of Riccardo Tisci’s reign but they didn’t even given the popularity of their blazers

Oh well…

 

[Kimihiro]

They’ve been on life support for years so this isn’t surprising. Go to the Middle East and see the amount of BALMAIN tshirt merch and you’ll know things are dire.

I liked his Balmain at first, the tackiness and all that but I don’t see this house going forward.

 

[MagFan]

vogue.com not made "Best moments in Vogue" gallery to Giorgio when he passed but made to this guy now. wtf?

 

[Nimsay]

I mean power dressing is over. Unfortch for Kris Jenner.


Olivier was crucial in the power dressing 80s resurgence in the 10s.

He had some cute stuff but most of his early pieces were unwearable and best described as quilt like. Only recently has he been able to actually make flou. Kinda crazy he was allowed to barely be able to stitch clothes together for so long. Due to that decade long stint of hardly being able to do a hem I do not need to see him at another house.

He walks around looking like an absolute maniac in his power dressing bubble - shoulders like anvils. I think that the Chanel collection is what pushed this since maybe Balmain was not able to figure power dressing was winding down until Chanel threw it out the window and they realized Balmain needed a switch.

 

[FashionPower]

Umm, I'm puzzled, he has been very incosistent throughout his tenure
- Early 2010's: his best era but that was basically Decarnin on autopilot. The Fabergè show is definitely one of the most iconic show of that decade though.
- Mid 2010's: less drama, less over the top but too Kardashian's inspired. The balance between over the top in your face tackiness and elevated design was still present anyway.
- Late 2010's: beginning of the downfall: too overdesigned, overconstructed, overembellished, over everything basically. Those Mugler inspired 2018 shows are a nightmare. Even the casting started to get kinda underwhelming from that period.
- Early 2020's: a mess. 180 from one season to the next one and the brand had no relevancy in the fashion conversation. I think no one remembers any of his post pandemic shows.

I did not get the shift towards the Isabel Marant / Acne Studio design aesthetic cause it felt very forced and pretentious. Furthermore, Isabel Marant style is so coded, iconic and defined that the last two collections felt like a cheap copy. The girls from The Attico were smart in trying to fit into the Isabel Marant x OG Decarnin Balmain market share and steal customers from both.

 

[eugenius]

....also, the braids gotta go - they are comical. Like, BFFR.

They scream out “I’m Rick James, b*tch!”

I have to give him a round of applause. He lasted at Balmain for nearly 15 years. That’s three times longer than the average designer’s tenure, so kudos to him. I don’t know him personally, but I wish him well in his next endeavors regardless.