Balmain Spring 2009

Paris: Rock of Ages

By Cathy Horyn

Balmain was this afternoon. Christophe Decarnin did Sgt. Pepper jackets with peaked shoulders (sort of like Margiela’s) with ripped, acid-washed jeans and sparkly high heels. Dresses made you think of early bondage Versace, mixed with a bit of Alaia. I liked the cut of the jackets — the way they fell at the front — and I suppose there is a certain similarity to McQueen, but Decarnin has a way of identifying all the most interesting bits in the fashion cosmos and putting them together at the right moment. A London retailer told me her store recently sold two of his party dresses, for about $14,000 each, online.

Natasha Poly


Mariacarla Boscono


Isabeli Fontana


Natasha Poly


Isabeli Fontana


Mariacarla Boscono


Natasha Poly