Balmain and Olivier Rousteing celebrate the launch of the Pre-Fall 2023 collection at Hotel Chelsea
Violetta Komyshan, Isabelle Chaput, Nelson Tiberghien

Balmain and Olivier Rousteing celebrate the launch of the Pre-Fall 2023 collection at Hotel Chelsea

Balmain and Creative Director Olivier Rousteing hosted an intimate cocktail, with a performance by Rainsford, at the Piano Room at Hotel Chelsea in New York City to celebrate the launch of the Balmain Pre-Fall 2023 collection.

For the Pre-Fall 2023 collection, Rousteing was inspired by Monsieur Balmain’s designs from the  ‘60s and ‘70s, highlighting familiar codes of the house, including striking black-and-white pairings, strict Parisian tailoring and a host of plays on Balmain’s iconic golden buttons.

Rousteing and team riffed on Monsieur Balmain’s love of brooches and bows, exaggerating those embellishments up to the point where adornments have been transformed into the center of designs. The many classic patterns that Rousteing spotted inside Balmain’s mid-century archives — houndstooth, Prince of Wales, chevrons—have been updated, as well, creating very modern and luxe spins on those old-school motifs.

Guest at the event included Rainey Qualley, Nicole Ari Parker, Aissata Diallo, Ajani Russell, Alioune Badara Fall, Amy Juliette Lefevre, Candace Marie Stewart, Coco Bassey,Davis Burleson, Fernando Casablancas, Karen Blanchard, Maria Alia Al-sadek, Remi Bader, Sai De Silva, Sophia Kodjoe,Tyler Mazaheri, Violetta Komyshan, Young Emperors (Nelson Tiberghien and Isabelle Chaput), and more.

Nelson Tiberghien, Alioune Badara Fall, Tyler Mazaheri

Photography | BFA, courtesy of Balmain