Balmain - Runway Review

What can I say except I was a child of the 80s and although I didn't live it out to my full potential back in the day, I did and still do have a fondness for acid wash jeans, off the shoulder tops, bandage dresses, jewel colors and all things sparkly. And although some things are best left in the past, Christophe Decarnin brought back the best of the 80s without looking like history repeating itself.


Most notably seen was the revival of Michael Jackson Military Jacket with dazzling crystallized frogging paired with skinny light wash torn acid wash jeans and paired with metal/crystal heavy sandals.

The shoulder is back, but this time more deliberate looking with a well tailored fitted sleeve and a gentle but prominent shoulder curve that points out and away from the body.


Sequins, studs and crystal returns. This season the runways have been full of not so subtle sparkle. I particularly like the use to make linear and curvelinear patterns across the body. Note the skirt lengths, even the high waisted look is hemmed short short short!!!


Bandage dresses in Hot Jewel colors like fuschia, purple and teal offset the heavy use of black, white and pale wash denim. Unlike Herve Leger, these bandage dresses are less structured and deliberate, but more organic and mummy like. Especially in the pink mini dress above. The crystal web accents in combination with the bandage wrap, almost look like you got caught in a web of a luxurious spider and she's wrapping you up snugly in silk.

Balmain showed the world what 80s done right should look like. Rock and Roll Sexy Glam, without the washed up 80s rock/pop star

*images courtesy of newyorkmag.com