
When Olivier Rousteing was announced as the creative director of Balmain, to say that all eyes have been on him ever since is quite the understatement. It's for this reason that he might be a bit pleased at the moment to have the spotlight off him and on the two leading men, Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane, instead.
For spring/summer 2013m Rousteing continued to breathe some youth into the brand. Harlequin monochrome printed trouser suits were inspired by the tiles he saw on a recent trip to Cuba and Latin techniques also informed the detailing across the shoulders of boxy matador-style jackets. Embellishment was another strong point and saw Rousteing show just how good he is at working with different fabrics like woven raffia to update the brand's signature mini dresses.
But it wasn't all good. Oversized proportions is something that has been doing the rounds since last season so it came as no surprise that Rousteing tapped into it but the oversized 80s power dressing pieces felt like a step too far and it was a shame. Since taking the helm Rousteing has made a good start in pushing things forward and ushering in a fresh twist, so it was disappointing to see him go down such a literal 80s route and take a step backwards.























