Balmain’s Creative Director, Olivier Rousteing, has amazed us once again with a stunning collection that remains unforgettable from Paris Fashion Week. Ever since Rousteing took the helm in 2011 at just 25 years old, this is the first time he has drawn inspiration from his hometown of Bordeaux, a picturesque wine region in France where his adoptive mother, Lydia Rousteing, raised him. This collection perhaps symbolizes how Rousteing has matured gracefully over the years, much like a fine wine.
The collection was abundant with grape motifs. We saw red and purple grapes adorning monochromatic outfits, beautifully decorating dresses and tops, and even inspiring accessories such as grape earrings and picnic baskets filled with grapes—truly a “grape galore.”
Rousteing mentioned backstage at Paris Fashion Week that his childhood picnics with his mother, who wore trench coats while laying a plaid gingham blanket, influenced his designs this season. The collection featured black and white plaid in various forms, including elegant maxi dresses and short, off-the-shoulder flare dresses adorned with white grape vines.
He also reimagined the classic trench coat his mother wore by giving it an avant-garde twist. These trench coats were accentuated with oversized lapels, sleeve loops, and gold snail buttons on the epaulettes.
In line with the grape and plaid theme, snails made subtle appearances on gold-plated tops, and were featured in gold snail earrings and belts, adding more depth to Balmain’s Fall/Winter ’24 collection. Explore more of Rousteing’s remarkable designs that showcase his distinctive techniques and dominated Paris Fashion Week!