Just over a month after celebrating his 15th anniversary as creative director of Balmain—and the fashion house’s 80th birthday—Olivier Rousteing is stepping down. The French designer was only 25 and working under Christophe Decarnin at Balmain when he was named his successor in 2010. Decarnin had revitalized the brand with bold power shoulders and ultra-short hemlines, so Rousteing faced significant pressure. His appointment also made him the first Black designer to lead a French luxury house.

But his debut collection quickly proved he was more than capable. With low-slung trousers and richly embroidered cropped boxy jackets, his designs became an instant uniform for the fashion-forward, retaining Balmain’s signature sex appeal while softening its sharper edges for greater wearability. This look went on to define early 2010s style.

Rousteing’s vision was driven by a desire to connect with people and reach a broad audience, even while creating high-end fashion. He introduced menswear in 2011, which soon became a commercial hit. In 2013, he joined Instagram—at a time when social media was still viewed with skepticism by the luxury world. By 2015, he secured the sought-after H&M designer collaboration, featuring many pieces inspired by his own runway shows.

“It’s thrilling to imagine all the young people who’ve dreamed of wearing Balmain finally getting the chance with this collection,” he told Vogue at the time. “I value my Instagram followers because they’re always honest about my designs. After every show, their feedback matters most. They share which pieces they’d love to wear, and I created this collection for them.”

Soon, the “Balmain Army” emerged—a group of influential women, led by Kim Kardashian and including her sisters and mother, who consistently wore his designs long before the fashion industry recognized their impact. In 2018, Rousteing designed the costumes for Beyoncé’s iconic Coachella performance (dubbed Beychella) and for all her dancers. For his tenth anniversary at Balmain, he hosted a public show attended by 6,000 people, featuring a performance by Doja Cat.

In 2022, he became the third designer invited to create a couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier, following Chitose Abe of Sacai and Glenn Martens. In a fitting full-circle moment, his Spring 2026 show was held at the same venue as his debut, though the collection reflected a looser, more bohemian aesthetic—a sign of a designer fully comfortable in his own skin.

As he moves on, explore his standout Balmain designs in Vogue.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Olivier Rousteings most iconic Balmain creations featured in Vogue designed to be clear helpful and accessible

Beginner General Questions

1 Who is Olivier Rousteing
He is the creative director of the French luxury fashion house Balmain a position he has held since 2011 He is known for his glamorous bold and social mediasavvy approach to design

2 What makes a Balmain creation iconic
An iconic Balmain creation under Rousteing is a piece that is instantly recognizable often widely featured in media and defines his signature style of powerful shoulders intricate embellishments and a modern warriorlike elegance

3 Where can I see these iconic looks
The best places are Vogues online archives Balmains official website and social media channels and redcarpet event coverage from the last decade

4 Are these pieces available for anyone to buy
Yes but primarily through Balmain boutiques and select highend retailers These iconic looks are part of their seasonal collections so they are luxury items with a corresponding price point

Questions About Specific Creations Style

5 What is Balmains most famous jacket under Rousteing
The most famous is arguably the sharply tailored heavily padded power shoulder blazer It became a signature item that defined the Balmain Army aesthetic

6 Ive seen a lot of beaded and fringed dresses Which ones are iconic
The fringed flapperinspired dresses from collections like Fall 2016 are highly iconic They were featured extensively in Vogue for their modern take on 1920s glamour combining heavy beading with a sexy contemporary silhouette

7 What is the Balmain Army
This is a term coined for Rousteings influential group of friends models and muses who frequently wear his designs It also refers to the powerful uniformlike aesthetic of his collections often featuring strong shoulders and militaryinspired details

8 Can you name an iconic celebrity moment in Balmain
One of the most iconic was the Balmainclad entourage at the 2015