Aesthetic Heritage

Love

It is no secret that I am in love with Oliver Rousteing. It is fantasy love, where I usually daydream of a Parisian love affair, a highly baroque embellished wedding gown, and babies with his wonderful bone structure and my wild curls.  But then I must remind myself that Oliver lives thousands of miles away in France, I’m just a lowly fashion student with ambitions to rule the world, and of course the banger, Mr. Rousteing identifies himself as a gay man.

My infatuation with Oliver finds me following him on Instagram, where I have to deal with countless models in his precious vicinity. Models and celebrities alike flock to his perfectionist body, and I can’t help to be bitten by the green bug.

 

Why do I love him? Not because he’s gorgeous (I can take it though), not because he has this dreamy French accent (I can hear him at this moment), but because he has mastered how all woman want to be represented when it comes to creating garments. With a touch of seduction, class, and a hint of demure Oliver is slowly rising to become a fashion icon.

 

History

Consistent to that of the House of McQueen in hiring the late Alexander’s leading assistant Sarah Burton, the House of Balmain appointed first assistant Oliver Rousteing after the former director Christophe Decarnin was dismissed.

 

The House of Balmain was established in the year 1945 by Pierre Balmain. Mr. Balmain himself supplied French women with long bell-shaped skirts with small waists. If that sounds familiar it’s because the same aesthetic became popular as Dior’s New Look. He went on to show his couture work, fragrances, and designs for many French films. 

 

Oliver

Fast forward through head designers Erik Mortensen, Oscar de la Renta, and Christophe Decarnin, we get to the 27 year old Oliver Rousteing. At just 25 Oliver was commanded as creative director of the legendary luxury brand. Now through six seasons Oliver has illustrated that sexual undertones is an aspect that he’s keeping, and however he can exhibit the female body to her advantage his how he forever will work. He might have learned this from previously working under Roberto Cavalli at the tender age of 18.

 

Oliver is the master of the silhouette, baroque pieces, provocative tops, seductive slit skirts, his talent with leather and gold’s, and intricate cut tops that you wouldn’t believe grace this world with their presence.

 

My infatuation with Oliver as a designer has become consuming. I look online at past collections, even though I know every color, stich, fabric pattern and design that Oliver has ever created. But its way more than him, it’s how he puts together the history of Balmain in everything that he does. From the gowns, to the accessories, even the runway shows themselves can’t help but make you feel anything but the classic Parisian feeling only Balmain can supply. 

 

I’ve never meet Pierre Balmain, but I’m sure he would more proud of Oliver than I am.