Balmain Spring / Summer 2016

PARIS — Michael Jackson and Beethoven, it all pretty much comes down to this in the end and most especially when Olivier Rousteing is calling the shots as he was Thursday afternoon at Le Grande for the runway debut of his latest Balmain collection. An evocative mix of the two as captured on MJ’s “Will You Be There” reverberated throughout the gilded salon in which the runway show was staged featuring Lineisy Montero, Binx, Riley Montana, and Isabeli Fontana amongst a typically robust lineup of #BalmainArmy regulars. The collection itself made no apologies in its seasonal celebration of women’s bodies and as if to emphasize that commitment largely dispensed with any colors that were not some shade of nude. “Tight-ass hair,” to borrow a turn of phrase used backstage by Binx to describe the fine work of hair stylist Sam McKnight, instilled a level of militancy in keeping with any standing army let alone a Balmain Army. On the afternoon that army kept formation, did its general proud, and did so all to a glorious anthem fit for a pop king.

Credits include: Client, Balmain; Collection, Women’s Ready-To-Wear Spring / Summer 2016; Clothing design, Olivier Rousteing; Hair, Sam McKnight; Makeup, Tom Pecheux; Casting, Jess Hallett.