6
6
Cher, the surprise guest at Balmain’s Spring-Summer 2023 show
It has been a long time since Olivier Rousteing left the sphere of fashion designers to achieve the status of a rock star. The young designer has been organizing music festivals during his fashion shows and donating the profits to the association (RED) as of 2020. As Balmain’s artistic director since 2011, he transformed the Jean Bouin stadium into a giant catwalk for his Spring-Summer 2023 fashion show and unveiled a collection full of surprises in front of an ecstatic audience. Discover 3 highlights of this exceptional event.
1. Cher, the futuristic muse
Before the models walked on a catwalk, that could be used as a set for the film Dunes, a giant screen showcased the house’s new handbag with the 76-year-old singer Cher as the face of the campaign appearing in a tight latex suit and armor corset. Yet, the music-loving designer did not stop with this simple avatar… At the end of a long and powerful show, the pop star, who made her debut in the 1960s, burst onto the catwalk to her revolutionary song Believe and congratulated the designer, who was moved to tears in front the 8,000 guests applauding him.
2. A transcultural collection between past, present and future
Since his tribute show to Jean Paul Gaultier last July, Olivier Rousteing has clearly developed a taste for mixing and matching artistic and historical references. Thus, this long and dense collection, including no less than 98 men and women silhouettes, called in all eras and styles, materials and textures, narrowly escaping the indigestion thanks to the use of a sober telluric color palette and Renaissance- inspired patterns. Regarding footwear, Olivier Rousteing pushed the limits of excess with a surprising collection of sculptural laced sandals… but after all, there is nothing he can’t do. Ashley Graham and Precious Lee were the highlight of the show when they triggered a round of applause as they walked the runway.
3. A surprise couture collection
Before Cher set the catwalk on fire and as the sublime song 7 Seconds by Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry began, Olivier Rousteing unveiled an unexpected haute couture collection full of spectacular and eco-responsible three-dimensional creations made from paper, banana leaf, wicker weavings, and a pleated dress made from recycled plastic. Although the collection is not 100% sustainable, the French designer now claims to be working for a better world.
