Holy Shoulder pads Batman...

The 80’s.

Shudder.

Was there ever a worse time for fashion?

Maybe it’s because I lived through the horror that I can’t imagine anyone EVER wanting to revisit it.

Yet they do. Young designer after young designer, drawn to it like a should pad wearing moth to a flame.

Olivier Rousteing for Balmain has gone for it BIG.

“For Pre-Fall 2019, my team and I continue our experimentations with constructions and tailoring, relying on our atelier’s impressive savoir-faire to create striking new silhouettes and styles that underline this house’s couture heritage. Perhaps because I was working on Balmain’s modernized logo at the same time as this collection, my focus was even more strongly trained on bold and precise curves, angles and lines. It’s clear that structure—whether related to serifs or shoulders—is a recurring theme across all parts of Balmain this season”

Now while all the bright young things and starlets may be in thrall, I can’t help but be a practical Queen. Just look at this gown below. How the hell can that be comfortable or feel secure and surely the weight of the beading in the bell sleeve below will pull and distort the nude mesh of that dress.

Needless to say I can’t shake Thierry Mugler vibes from these ones…

The most interesting pieces are when he really plays with new shapes.

These are striking and made me smile.

As always, even as Balmain continues to explore new constructions and inspirations, there remains at the core of this, like every offering, an identifiable, singular spirit, confidence and assertiveness that sets this house and our Balmain Army apart.

Queen Marie