How To Dress In The Balmain Style – A Guide

When it comes to incorporating the latest fashion trends into your wardrobe, few designers have the distinct aesthetic of Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain. The Balmain style is an effortless combination of French luxury and a streetwear attitude. As Balmain’s Creative Director since 2011, Rousteing continues to morph the brand’s heritage of tailored uniforms into something more daring. But wearing the Balmain style isn’t just about having a red-carpet worthy wardrobe. There’s an art to wearing the signature look from head to toe. If you want to dress in the Balmain style then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll provide all the tips and advice for nailing the iconic look.

Channeling Your Inner Balmain

X Remember that the best way to achieve the Balmain style is by practicing trial and error. Introducing a few of these design elements into your wardrobe will help you stay on trend, while allowing you the flexibility to mix and match different styles.

Understanding The Inspiration For Balmain

Olivier Rousteing is known for incorporating both traditional Parisian styling with his own daring interpretation of fashion. He has utilized this influence in his collections for Balmain as far back as 2011. While there’s a captivating edge to many of his designs, elements of Parisian culture still permeate throughout his collections.

Understand What Makes The Balmain Style Unique

The biggest factors that set the Balmain style apart from other fashion labels are its use of color, fabric, texture, and embellishment. All of these features are woven together to create unique garments that are instantly recognizable as a product of the House of Balmain.

Color Scheme

Balmain pieces always feature a certain color palette. Bold navy blues, royal purples, and vibrant magentas are often seen in various collections, while subdued tones like olive greens, grey marles, and taupes come into play too. Then there are the neutrals like black and white. The best way to achieve this look is through statement pieces with subtle accents, like a blue velvet mini-dress paired with a simplistic black stiletto heel.

Embellishments & Details

One of the most powerful wardrobe updates you can make is to incorporate plenty of embellishments. Whether it’s buckles and buttons, or rhinestones or pearl, try to look for pieces that have those little flourishes that elevate a look from basic to standout. Another trend in Rousteing’s designs are frilly details like rosettes or ruffles that never fail to depict a sense of boldness.

Fabrics & Textures

With every season Rousteing likes to incorporate different fabrics and textures into his designs to create that perfect juxtaposition between different elements. From luxurious silks and satins – used in flowing midi-skirts – to faux furs, suede and velvet, you should always try to experiment with different materials when dressing in the Balmain style.

Tailoring & Silhouettes

Tailoring is an extremely important aspect of the house of Balmain. All of Rousteing’s designs feature highly structured cuts – often body sculpting silhouettes that form-fit to the body. But don’t worry – not all pieces have this silhouette. You can find 1950s-inspired flared trousers or structured blazers that look as if they have been made for you specifically.

Deconstructing The Look

When it comes to accessorizing a Balmain outfit, there is a big focus on hardwearing metals and jewelry with a distinct edge. Bold statement pieces like hammered necklaces with oversized chains are always great additions, as well as bangles or large hoop earrings. Rousteing also advocates an “unfinished look’ when it comes to styling, something that almost gives an incomplete impression. So if you feel like something is missing from your ensemble, then chances are you did it right!

Final Tips & Tricks

One quick tip for getting the Balmain style right would be to invest in staple pieces that stand out on their own and complement each other accordingly. Monochrome colours are always great starters – like a white top and jeans combination – that can be layered with striking accessories like jewel encrusted sweaters or jackets if you fancy making more of a statement. Dressing in the Balmain style is all about being fearless in your boldness and expressing yourself through fashion. If you take anything away from this article let it be this: don’t be afraid to mix and match different textures, colours and fabrics when styling – be creative! Most importantly, have fun and wear clothes that make you feel like a million dollars. If you’d like to know more about some of the individual pieces that have become synonymous with the House of Balmain’s luxury aesthetic take a look at our collection here.