Features

7 Minutes with Olivier Rousteing on Balmain x Mytheresa

07.11.2018

By Stephanie Boey

7 Minutes with Olivier Rousteing on Balmain x Mytheresa

It’s quite easy to spot a Balmain piece by the hands of Olivier Rousteing. His strong yet sexy silhouettes see exaggerated shoulders, accentuated waists and luxurious embellishments through macrame and intricate beading have become his design signature. Perfect for a night out in town, his party-ready threads have notable fans—the Kardashian-Jenner clan and the Hadids have been spotted in his glitzy designs.

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, luxury online retailer Mytheresa and Olivier Rousteing collaborated to bring an exclusive collection for die-hard Balmain fans. Usually known for its use of deep hues, splashes of colour and over-the-top adornments, the capsule is surprisingly toned-down for the French fashion house. The 10-piece collection consists of signature Balmain styles reimagined in a muted colour palette for a refreshing update. Hop on the logomania trend and pledge allegiance to the House of Balmain in the grey tunic top and long-sleeved sweater. But if you’re looking to make a statement, trust the structured tweed jackets, body conscious dresses and skirts in a clean white palette accented with Balmain’s signature gold buttons to turn heads.

 

 

Q & A with Olivier Rousteing

You reinterpreted 10 signature styles for this exclusive capsule collection for Mytheresa. What was your inspiration and what is your favourite piece for the holiday season and why?All of these hold a special memory for me, so it is really impossible to pick a certain favourite from this small group- it was hard enough to specify just these ten! My team and I put so much time and effort into each collection, but, of course, there’s always one or two specific pieces that always stay with me, even years after I first showed them on the runway. They’ve helped embody a spirit and often served as the first of a whole series of looks that were later built upon that one particular look. These are all looks whose power managed to last more than a single season, often inspiring several distinct iterations.

The theme of the collection and the Mytheresa x Balmain event is disco-party and you are famous for working with a lot of musicians for Balmain. What does music mean to you personally and how do you see this in your work in general and more specifically this capsule?Music plays a part in almost every one of my creations. Thirty-somethings like me grew up experiencing music and fashion as always intertwined, so it’s close to impossible for me to imagine one without the other. In the studio, the soundtrack is set at top volume and the beat, lyrics and messages work their way into our subconscious as we design. And, of course, my favourite musicians have been both inspirations for collections and served as the focus for several of the house’s campaigns, so it’s no surprise that this collection looks to the classic tunes and infectiously joyful vibes of disco—the perfect soundtrack to the effervescence of the holiday season.

The capsule collection is right in time for the holiday season. How do you celebrate Christmas and New Year’s? With whom and what do you do?This is my season for escaping a bit from the non-stop schedule I follow all year and finally relax, having some nice holiday dinners with friends and heading to Bordeaux, my hometown, to spend as many days as possible with my family.

 

You are perceived as a disrupter – a rebel in the fashion industry. Why do you think that is and what rules do you feel still need to be broken in the fashion industry?Of course, there are plenty of rules-and not just in fashion-that need to be re-examined and cast aside, if and when needed. But sometimes I think that calling me a “disrupter” might be a little misleading. I actually think that what I keep pushing for is nothing more than honesty and truly living up to the standards that everyone has been giving lip service to for years-diversity, respect, empowerment. Honesty is a powerful and beautiful “disrupting” tool.

 

When designing a new collection, how does your design process work? Do you have a muse in mind or do you get your inspiration from something or somewhere more specific?Each collection has followed its own distinctive path of inspiration-sometimes my team and I channel icons and muses, sometimes it is more a spirit and mindset that moves us. But we consistently build upon a few key ingredients: the legacy of this historic house, the singular craftsmanship of Balmain’s ateliers, the spirit of my generation and the liberating potential of music.

 

See the full collection below:

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Balmain x Mytheresa will be available on 7 November at Mytheresa.com with a price range of €195 to €1,790 (approx. RM933 to RM8,563). 

 

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