Balmain opts for operatic excess at Paris Fashion Week

Sep 29 , 2017

Models Alessandra Ambrosio, Natalia Vodianova, Natasha Poly present creations as Olivier Rousteing acknowledges the audience at the end of Balmain women's 2018 spring/summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. Photo: AFP

Fashion needs its showmen, and Balmain’s designer Olivier Rousteing is one of them. On Thursday he took his guests to the opulent Paris Opera, where thousands of white roses peeped out of foliage decorating the venue’s stone staircase.

French fashion designer Olivier Rousteing appears at the end of his 2018 spring/summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. Photo: REUTERS

And in case guests were unsure what event they were attending, a giant gold-medallion embossed “Balmain Paris” gleamed in the centre.

Model Natalia Vodianova strutted out to operatic music, sporting a loose black sheeny jumpsuit, gold-chain shoulder-straps and see-through PVC boots.

Model Natalia Vodianova presents a creation for Balmain during the women's 2018 spring/summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. Photo: AFP

Her look set the tone – this may be the opera house, but nothing shown here will be classical. Designs with unadulterated excess followed, with sheer printed plastic skirts, angular black perforated sweaters, and speckled corsets with strategically placed zips.

A model presents a creation for Balmain during the women's 2018 spring/summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. Photo: AFP

Stripe motifs, horizontal bands and Rousteing’s signature warrior-like stitching then added some kinetic energy to looks dominated by black, white and silver – with a flash of vivid colour.

Model Natalia Vodianova presents a creation by French fashion designer Olivier Rousteing as part of his spring/summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris. Photo: REUTERS

It was all screams, elbows and shoving as supermodel Claudia Schiffer appeared suddenly from nowhere in front of the Paris Opera.

She triggered mayhem as she stepped out of a car alone for the Balmain show, sporting the voluminous hairstyle and Breton stripes reminiscent of French sex bomb Brigitte Bardot.

hellooooo front row girls @carineroitfeld @claudiaschiffer at @balmain show. #carineroitfeld #claudiaschiffer #balmain #dixitpeggy

A post shared by peggy frey (@peggfrey) on Sep 28, 2017 at 8:41am PDT

It’s the first public appearance the 47-year-old German has made since she grabbed headlines at Milan Fashion Week, modelling alongside supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen and Carla Bruni in Donatella Versace’s eponymous show.

Top models (from left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen pose at the end of the show for fashion house Versace during the spring/summer 2018 fashion shows in Milan. Photo: AFP

Schiffer is promoting her upcoming book, which looks at her 30 years in the fashion industry.

Later in the day, Balmain will launch a new lipstick collection with L’Oreal at a celebrity-filled soirée.

Model Winnie Harlow poses during a photocall for the L'Oreal Balmain party during the ready-to-wear fashion week in Paris. Photo: AP

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Paris Fashion Week SS18

Claudia Schiffer and Pamela Anderson added some star quality to Paris Fashion Week’s decadent Balmain collection Thursday, while a debut from Chloe’s new designer wowed the crowds