Balmain Will Tap Olivier Rousteing to Replace Christophe Decarnin

Following Christophe Decarnin's departure from Balmain earlier this month amid rumors of mental illness, the label was said to be hiring "someone unknown" to replace him. Now it appears that this someone is Olivier Rousteing, Decarnin's deputy designer at Balmain since 2009.
Prior to joining Balmain, Rousteing worked at Roberto Cavalli in Milan for nearly six years. He was born in France, attended fashion school at ESMOD, and speaks several languages. According to sources, he is "a young and promising creative dynamo."
If rumors that Decarnin's absence began in January are true, then Balmain's most recent collection was overseen by Rousteing (with the help of stylist and consultant Melanie Ward), so he's basically been doing this job for a while already. Ward, who was also a logical candidate for the position, will presumably continue her work for the brand. In other words, Balmain probably won't veer from its bank-breaking formula of slashed jeans,and tailored jackets.
An official announcement confirming Rousteing's appointment is expected within a week.

Balmain Spring 2011 Menswear Collection Review

Balmain's Spring/Summer 2011 releases a collection full of edginess and urban-grunge influences over fashion this season. Going mostly for a darker area in chromatic styling, Christophe Decarnin puts an accent on a hidden masculine rough side into his designs.







The Balmain fashion house is one of the leading Parisian labels that was founded by fashion designer Pierre Balmain, the person who took his own brand to a high level in this industry. The “king of French fashion” reached success and popularity during the World War II, but after his death the label kept going down. His mark over the Balmain designs were known as being very sophisticated and elegant with lots of luxury and classic designs.

Today, the fashion designer Christophe Decarnin is the one that runs over Balmain since 2005 and he is the responsible for re-taking the brand once again to the top. Going for edgier and more sophisticated designs, Decarnin knows that his personal mark on Balmain is very successful for our new modern times.




If in his women's collections, Christophe Decarnin goes mostly for bold and outstanding designs, choosing silver and gold to maintain glamour and an unique appearance, in his menswear collections he chooses to take things to another chapter. He goes mostly for darker or neutral colors and classic cuts for the designs, by presenting minimalistic pieces that shine out through the attitude and personality that these clothes put in value.