I cannot understand why people are declaring Olivier Rousteing one of Paris’ great new talents. He isn’t great, he is just continuing what Christophe Decarnin did at Balmain, but with a slightly more refined hand.
I suppose the other issue, the MAIN issue, I have with Balmain is I cannot stand any French attempt at being rock’n'roll. The French are the least rock’n'roll country in the world (maybe they tie with Switzerland) and I find it annoying that the industry has declared Balamin and Emmanuelle Alt as “rock.” France is a country devoid of the rebellious sentiments, the unified subcultures, and any form of powerful music that gives birth to a rock’n'roll movement. I know this, I lived there, and I searched for this. It was nowhere to be found. The French should make their couture, their perfume, their good looking women, and their delicious food. Hell, they can have art, work-life balance, and etiquette too. But they can’t take rock’n'roll.
And aside from a few nice beaded dresses, this collection was not worth getting excited about.
I love…
this heavily beaded mini dress. But no one seems to want to point out it is the same shape Decarnin used to show.
the incredible effect the beaded motif has on this dress silhouette.
I loathe…
tacky, overpriced Parisienne 'streetwear'.
the big blazer, the skinny pants... nothing much has changed at Balmain.
all these biker jacket shapes. I hate when the French try and do "rock" because they inevitably fail. But nice right leg, Anna.
(Oh, and just to add a little credibility to my French rant, I am in fact, half French, so I know the French ways well. And my Dad, who has great taste and a fine appreciation for all that is rock’n'roll, is incapable of capturing the spirit of BEING rock’n'roll, because he has the typical attitude of a French person. He may have the motorcycles, record collection, and leather jackets to appear to be rock’n'roll, but without the spirit, he’s just not there.)
All images from Vogue.com.
