THE BALMAIN EFFECT

What do Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, Beyonce and every fashion editor in the world have in common? They all suffer from Balmainia, of course! There has been no more influential designer over the past two seasons than Christophe Decarnin.
Thanks to him, the tricky shoulder trend has reached both red carpet and front row ubiquity,¬ as has the ripped jean, the harem pant and an easily identifiable, tough-chick, rock-chic look that¹s staggeringly expensive but reassuringly glamorous. The new collection again epitomised 1980s good-time dressing: sequined, studded, embellished and almost too sexy, ¬ but with enough leather and backcombed hair to keep it on the right side of cool. Its trickle down effect was seen in oversized shoulders all over every city.

By Avril Mair

preview for The Balmain Effect