BALMAIN 1945 SOFT
Giving Balmain’s heritage a whole new twist
As Olivier Rousteing makes clear, Pierre Balmain’s 1945 legacy of impressively bold audacity can still surprise today.
Like everyone in the French capital, Olivier Rousteing knows that Parisiennes love their quilted bags. “Quilted bags are definitely a wardrobe staple here,” notes the Balmain Creative Director. “My team and I have always noted that stylish French women know exactly how to rely on quilted bags to add just that perfect finishing touch—just combining them with an everyday look, like the typical tee-and-jeans combo, works to pull everything together in a timeless, effortlessly chic manner.”
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So when considering new possibilities for the bestselling 1945 line of luxury leather bags, Rousteing was determined to add a quilted option, taking full advantage of Balmain’s Italian luxury leather and impeccable craftsmanship.
Timeless, yes. But since—as the name makes clear—the 1945 Soft line looks to Balmain’s historic beginnings, these quilted designs are as eye-catchingly vibrant, fresh and bold as the house founder’s first couture collection in 1945.
Pierre Balmain helped to forever changed the course of post-war French fashion with introduction of the startling “New French Style” in 1945—so, anything named for that pivotal moment has a lot to live up to. That’s why Olivier Rousteing and his accessories team have worked to skillfully blend together a host of historic references pulled directly from Balmain’s rich archives with an array of new techniques, materials and colors for the 1945 Soft collection.
All the bags in the collection rely on unique golden embellishments, reflecting a shared signature of both Pierre Balmain and Olivier Rousteing—gold medallions, gilded buttons and golden symbols have graced Balmain creations since Pierre Balmain’s earliest days and remain a key element in Olivier Rousteing’s collections today.
1945 BAGS
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The new line relies on a clean, sleek and tailored silhouette that channels Balmain’s famous tailoring, as well as vibrant—sometimes fluorescent—tones and multiple inventive spins on the iconic Balmain Labyrinth pattern.
THE BALMAIN
1945 SOFT
