Friends bring benefits in stellar supermodel line-up as Balmain channels Kardashian curves at Paris Fashion Week

The benefit of being besties with the supermodel set meant Balmain’s young Olivier Rousteing had all the biggest girls on his Paris Fashion Week runway.

The line-up was a veritable who’s who of modern modelling: Gigi Hadid, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Joan Smalls, Kendall Jenner, Jourdan Dunn, Lindsey Wixson, Ming Xi and Karlie Kloss. What was this ... Taylor Swift’s girl squad reunion?

And in the front row there was plenty of hoopla over Kris Jenner in a floor-length mink coat, seated next to her daughter’s husband, an uncharacteristically reserved Kanye West. Kim Kardashian wasn’t here this time, but the brand makes no secret of Rousteing’s close connection to America’s most famous family.

With most fashion runways criticised for lacking ethnic diversity, this French label is leading the charge in using models of all colours in its biggest shows, campaigns and collaborations – and this one was no exception. For that alone, Rousteing should be applauded.