Christophe Decarnin is the brains behind Balmain. Oh my, what big brains he has.
In a little less than two seasons, Decarnin managed to take the label from the sartorial backburner and turn it into one of the most replicated brands in the high street today. How? A far cry from the delicate pieces worn by Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner when Balmain was emerging, Christophe has managed to keep the quality and inject it with a universal, edgy and polished style that even Mr. Oscar de la Renta couldn’t achieve in his 8 years designing for the label.
As A/W 2010 took a more feminine turn, his ultra-flattering collections will be sure to continue to change our wardrobe staples in the seasons to come.