Written by Menswear Style in New Collections on the 7th February 2019

Founded in 1945, French fashion house Balmain quickly found itself becoming synonymous with luxury elegance and opulent styling. Dressing celebrities, foreign royals and some of the most glamorous individuals from around the world, the brand have racked up an impressive list of famous clientele, carving their name deep into the bedrock of the fashion foundations. More recently with the appointment of creative director Olivier Rousteing in 2011 – the second youngest creative director in Paris at only 25 years old – the brand has seen an injection of youthful, social media savvy sensibilities to complement their traditional and timelessly classic design ethos and rich haute couture archival history.

Following on from revered designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Oscar de la Renta, Rousteing has managed to not only piece together a number of forward-thinking collections but a contemporary lifestyle and attitude by which the brand’s followers live by. This unwritten mantra of the self-titled Balmain army continues into their latest offering amongst a plethora of diverse influences that serve as a testament to Balmain’s innovative nature, the same innovation that has seen them through over 60 years at the top.

One of the more notable influences this time around is traditional biker outfitting, no more evident than in the Parisians brand’s adaption of the classic double rider leather jacket. Crafted from supple lambskin and boasting premium metal hardware throughout, the jacket oozes with the brand’s signature styling and exceptional quality that manages to bring a graceful touch to an intrinsically rugged and masculine silhouette.

But, what good is a quality biker jacket without the accompanying denim and luckily for us Balmain aren’t one to disappoint. Coming dressed in both a grey and black colourway, the jeans feature vintage-inspired fading for some worn-in ready-to-wear appeal. Panelling similar to their more functional counterparts can be found to the knees and waist with hard-wearing zips and an embroidered tonal Balmain badge to the back for a lavish finish.

Other pieces such as the cotton knit contrast stripe sweatshirt, take a more reflective approach opting to highlight the brand’s deep roots in the French fashion capital. Paired here with the Italian made, premium suede buckle ankle boots, it boasts a freshly re-worked Balmain script logo to the blocked-out chest that sits juxtaposed with the conventional print found across this seasons wardrobe staples such as t-shirts, pull-over hoodies and sweatshirts.

Taking things in a completely different direction in what could be seen as an answer to the permeation of sportswear into the modern fashion world, several more casual garments take centre stage including a two-piece tracksuit, sliders and a leather adaption of an orthodox varsity jacket. Here an overbranded taping can be found alongside the usual immaculate construction and sharp craftsmanship for a superlative spin on relaxed outfitting.

Keeping things casual Balmain also deliver the next iteration of their Cameron Knit Sneaker. Seen presented in a number of different colours, materials and tones the trainer retains its lightweight, form-fitting and comfortable sock-like design but this time boasts a branded, mirror finish, patent leather strap to the front for a fresh, statement-making approach to the usual footwear formula.

Whether dressing up or dressing down, day or night, casual or smart this Balmain collection promises to deliver something for everyone. The latest Balmain arrivals are available now online and in-store at Aphrodite1994.com.

From the Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, retailer Aphrodite showcase the Balmain Spring/Summer 2019 Collection.