In a breezy afternoon in a crowded showroom in Paris, Balmain warm-heartedly welcomed me to re-see the spring/summer 2014 collection shown few days before on runway, and as you might have imagined, a better understanding comes when you look closer. Before stepping into the showroom, I was reminded to the runway shots by a large look board. And a few steps ahead, it was where clothing miracle happened.
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| My fave! |
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| The winner! |
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| Heaven? |
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| The altar of shoes |
Olivier Rousteing took the definition of youth glamour to the new level. Remember when you are young enough so that you want to be older? Let say, twelve, so you're waiting for the next year so that you can be called a teen-ager, so that you can wear anything from stripped destroyed jeans? This collection gives me that feeling (I aint a girl, but I really understand it *wink*), what fashion can do to your dream. A sporty casual collection with the distinctive elements of the decade looked rejuvenated and relevant, patchwork denim with distinctive treatment, houndstooth (it's everywhere!), quilted leather or encrusted with shimming silver beading, wide gold chain link belts, an homage to Karl Lagerfeld early 90s collection (think Aurélie Bidermann), what initially in speedlight-walking models on runway look like a street-esque looks, it is all beyond that. I also noticed the buttons with lion engraved and four-pocketed black-and-white cardigan paired with skinny black jeans and sophisticated gold-heeled shoes.
There are trails sorted based on colours, with four alone burdened with denim blue, black and white standing alone not so far distance, and additional two, with a cordon of soft pink gradient clothes (have you ever seen biker jacket in pink?) with many variation of craftsmanship; quilt, cutouts, openwork, heavy embellishments, tweeds, printed silk, all side by side creating what I imagined as the grown-up Paris Hilton wardrobe (if she ever did).
The winner of them all were displayed on mannequin. A prodigiously embellished dress in pattern of flowers, squares, houndstooth (what I told you) and chains. The dress is long enough to look elegant and short enough to flatter a pair of beautiful legs.
Outstandingly talented Olivier successfully resurrected the idea of casual glamourama.
Signorfandi, bravo Balmain!