Olivier Rousteing has been at the helm of Balmain since 2011, and in the nearly decade and a half since, his distinct vision has been both embraced and celebrated by his loyal fans, playfully dubbed the Balmain army. Known for his overtly sexy silhouettes and loud luxury aesthetic, Rousteing catered to a specific clientele—Rousteing’s Balmain wasn’t for everyone.
Still, his consistent, more-is-more approach has worked, and it wasn’t until the brand’s most recent collection that it became clear Rousteing (and Balmain) might be ready for change.
A Fresh Start
Really, it was Balmain’s Pre-Fall 2025 collection that was the first hint at a new era for the House of Balmain. A prelude to the brand’s larger Fall 2025 collection, Pre-Fall immediately felt different. While yes there were louder elements, overall, it was clear that this was not the same Balmain we’ve become accustomed to.
That same sentiment was echoed earlier this week when Rousteing debuted his Fall 2025 collection at Paris Fashion Week. Ready-to-wear is undeniably chic and arguably a bit more, well, quiet. Rousteing explained, “She’s still the same woman—she’s just evolving,” he told Vogue.
The palette was neutral, with hints of color breaking up a parade of monochromatic looks. Jersey knits and soft cashmere were juxtaposed with statement outerwear and pops of bold zebra print. Leather jumpsuits and separates play on the utility trend—an elevated everyday uniform, if you will, in the chicest of ways.
On to the Bags of Balmain Fall 2025
The bags further explore what we saw for Pre-Fall: playful, fun, and statement-making. Clutches were a major focus, and we see a continuation of the distinct oversized belted buckle detail of the Balmain Anthem, used on elongated clutch bags and oversized totes alike. There is a chicness throughout the collection that extends to the bags as well, with a hint of edge because it is Balmain, after all.
All images courtesy of Vogue Runway
I guess cartoon size is fashionable?
I watched the show. The clothes are cool and I liked several of the bags. But some of the shoes were terrible. And some of them must have been really uncomfortable, I noticed more than a few models walking almost pigeon-toed, which is not something you normally do when your shoes fit properly and aren’t painful to walk in.
Way way better than the current balmain bags on the market.