French couturier Pierre Balmain grew up in a home surrounded by fashion. His father owned a wholesale drapery business while his mother and sisters operated a fashion boutique. While on the path of studying architecture, he found himself sketching dresses which lead him to drop his studies and presue his true calling of fashion. Christian Dior,Balmain and Cristobal Balenciaga were all the heavy weaights after World War II. Balmains lines were elegant, feminine and graceful, but since Balmain’s death, his label has changed with the times to being more hip and trendy. Current designer Christophe Decarnin has given the house’s look an rough and tough edge which has caught on with Hollywood's party girls. Balmain's owner, Alain Hivelin, said sales had doubled since Christophe Decarnin was appointed in 2005. Balmain jackets are filled with glitz and glam. These beautiful jackets fetch over 10,000 but have been on sale for 6K. They are very very pricey. If you can afford it, go for it. If you cannot, don't worry, there are dozens of other lines with glam for fractions of the price of these beauties.
Harper's Bazaar UK - Zuzana Gregorova
