Balmain collection: Fall Winter 09/10

Designer Christophe Decarnin sent a stunning range of high-octane party-wear and rhinestone-studded evening gowns (pictured) down the covered-over swimming pool at the Ritz hotel for the house of Balmain.

Decarnin, who last year banished Gwyneth Paltrow's earth mother image with a sexy black mini-dress, unveiled an Eighties-inspired collection in black, silver and white with just a flash of cobalt blue. While the colour palette was muted, the detail - from glitzy crystals to festishistic boots and from revealing bustiers to slashed jeans - was anything but.

The theme was 'Versace takes a trip', wrote Suzy Menkes in the International Herald Tribune. "The Balmain show was as disco as it was frisky and its appeal was simple: sexy chic." Despite Balmain pret-a-porter dresses selling at an estimated starting point of £10,000, the collection was "retail heaven", wrote Lisa Armstrong in the Times. “Clearly Decarnin knows how to sell.”

"Whether this collection was enough to cement his reputation as a serious agenda setter is another question. If you want to wear Balmain while it's still hot, purchase immediately."

Want to see the complete collection... Click here!

Front row at Balmain:

Vanessa Traina is a socialite-turned-model signed with Elite modeling agency. Her mother is novelist Danielle Steele. Anna Wintour is a British fashion editor & the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. Eva Herzigova is a model. She began her modeling career after winning a modeling beauty contest in Prague in 1989 at the age of sixteen. After arriving in Paris she became a popular supermodel. Create your own fashion look with the backstage Balmain Hair secret: Tape Extensions Tape Extensions represent quick, high quality, fun and affordable products. It is now possible to make a major change in appearance within a few minutes. Think of the endless possibilities of crazy colors, to natural high- or lowlights, to a complete lengthening. Tape Extensions are connected with your natural hair by using a strip of tape. Tape Extensions should be repositioned every 2-4 weeks. The condition of the Human Hair Tape Extensions are guaranteed for 6 months, when using Balmain Hair Care range.

 

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