Balmain fall women's 2022

I am compelled to write this because of the absurdity of this collection and the lip service this designer pays to a series of world crises. You wanna make a statement ... get a soap box, encourage donations, how much did you give, what have you done? Fencing clothes meet Battle Star Galactica lycra won’t change anything or even sell .. pull your head out of your ass and either design clothes or run for office but geez stop whining and get a grip on reality! These few images speak for themselves.

Balmain pre fall 2022

After just having looked at the slides for both Balmain and Balenciaga and having read both reviews, I realized, albeit maybe I wasn’t quick witted enough previously, to realize that these designers have nothing in common with the brands that they helm. It is strictly about them; they fool themselves and I’m sure many stupid followers who believe that they take into consideration the true DNA of the legendary brands they design under.

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Then it occurred to me that if the 2 collections would just be under their names and not the heritage names but then no one would have paid attention at the start. They speak of their output as in I want, I see I I I .... no mention of actual heritage that made these names forces of fashion.

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In other words, any pretense of the past is obliterated except for possibly a logo so if that what you really want then you got it. Rousteing is talented, there is no question about it but he now just designs clothes that suit his whim ...clothes for label whores and influencers and Kardashians... whoopee! Who dresses like this and where are they going in these clothes? My mind keeps going to that shoe with the heel that is pitched at the top of the arch which in my estimation will throw one’s body off balance and probably make you ache head to toe after wearing!

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These looks, if picked apart, there are jackets and skirts and even some dresses but he never of speaks to PIERRE BALMAIN, the reason he has a job, in any way ... and maybe that’s the point. One more time I will say designers talk too much these days as who cares about your personal journeys... this is a business of selling clothes and if not clothes then it is a business of accessories, scent, cosmetics, shoes and anything they hang the label on. It’s a waste of talent and waste of brand.

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As for Demna he just so full of himself and of hubris that it’s appalling in every way ... it is all about him and the almighty dollar... that’s it! It’s repellant and repulsive! No photos needed as there is nothing to see.

BALMAIN SPRING 2021

 I have never denied that Olivier Rousteing has talent and lots of it to spare but I very often ask who is whispering in his ear. The designers needs to undergo a rectal craniotomy, a procedure that removes one’s head from their ass! Has he not been paying attention these past 6 months or maybe this was the audition collection for the Mike Pence Space Force or lastly maybe he has become a tad too friendly with that Rooskie Demna who thought he’d change the face of fashion?

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Whatever the scenario, the result is totally out of synch with the time and so extreme to be comic book like or costume like for some intergalactic movie extravaganza. The pity of it all is that take away those absurd shoulder pads and day glow colors and reproportion those clothes and there are some pieces of staggering beauty. Again, if my grandmother had balls…

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What a tone-deaf waste of time and energy to strictly cater to the label whores who will have nowhere to wear these clothes but at least hopefully with a mask since those pesky COVID numbers keep rising in Paris as well as other hot spots around the world.

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This is strictly a case of what might have been if someone had reigned him in and asked wtf are you thinking?

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PS ...Entering a room will now be done sideways!

BALMAIN Resort 2021

If there was ever a moment when a designer and brand expose themselves as tone-deaf ... well, then this might be its nuclear flash!  After living through one of the darkest eras of humanity and still living through it, this designer and brand decided that it was business as usual and that the past three months can be erased and/or forgotten …. WRONG!

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  Firstly, Balmain is not on the level of CHANEL that has a network of retail outlets that need to be filled on a regular basis and secondly if, as the designer claims that Instagram is his runway … well, then I  hope that all of his so-called followers have black American Express cards and attend clandestine/underground galas where some of these frocks can be worn.

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As for the so-called daywear consisting of torn jeans and a jacket or some pastel confection … who cares… as for the party dresses ... where are the parties other than in front of your full-length mirror and thirdly even if we could erase all of what’s happened in 2020… where exactly are you wearing these clothes, who dresses like this anymore?

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Yes, there are a few standouts and some of them smart of Lacroix’s beginnings, Emanuel Ungaro and of course, CHANEL while others are just excess and grand gestures for the sake of showmanship. For a designer who was bemoaning his roots not that long ago, he certainly doesn’t show any regard for the times we live in.

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Fashion and life, in general, will never be the same on any continent or in any city and to make believe that they will just might amount to be one huge tragic flaw or error in judgement for the brand and designer. Designers are supposed to be somewhat clairvoyant as to what the future will hold and I can say this … Rousteing’s crystal ball must have been malfunctioning.

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Balmain fall 2020 men’s

As I have written time after time about Olivier Rousteing, the boy has talent! I have always been a fan of his underpinnings that he has consistently shown under his tailored pieces in previous collections BUT one more time an editor’s pencil was sorely needed especially with this collection!

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Not only was it repetitive to beat the band but then he opted to choose an Hermès like print to populate the collection…. Not a good idea at all for someone who says he was thinking of Africa, his ancestry and his roots when he designed the collection… waxed batiks??/ ikats??  C’mon girl get your shit together and do your homework. Your ancestors weren’t mummies!! 

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While the palette worked the collection was overkill on so many levels ... all that wrapping, swathing and draping and cowling and yes, I personally love it but how long does it take to get into these get-ups and where are you going in them. The tailored pieces were as usual razor sharp but there were these odd pieces like the calvary placket outerwear jacket and a seemingly ode to Schiaparelli’s sunburst cape. What’s odd is that all the wrapping seemed to recall the very beginnings of Haider Ackerman which all fell by the wayside and maybe today we can see why.

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With 35 or 40 exits he could he have created a far more cohesive and impactful collection that really made a statement rather than his audience being beaten over the head with these looks alike looks. If you want to base a collection on your roots you don’t have to imagine what your ancestors or genetic relations wear...  that’s what google is for or better yet get on a freakin plane and go look!

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 One last thing... your over 3 million Instagram followers…. Well my guess is 2,995,000 of them are H&M customers and that’s a generous guess on my part!!