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Maybe Kim Kardashian had an insider preview of today’s spectacular Balmain show collection or perhaps her designer BFF Olivier Rousteing’s been looking at her Instagram for inspiration, but either way there were plenty of parallels between the Mrs West’s recent wardrobe and the designer’s Spring 2017 runway offerings today.
Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing on the SS17 runway
Credit: NOWFASHION
Rousteing’s unique version of ’70s disco fabulousness for Balmain saw him free the nipple, feature plenty of animal print (specifically snakeskin), add waist-cinching girdle belts and focus heavily on sheer or see-through fabrics. He even created a stunning new take on the low V top that was one of the most masterful re-workings of a signature look we’ve seen all SS17 fashion week show season. Platform shoes, as seen here on Gigi Hadid, sealed the look.
Balmain SS17
Credit: NOWFASHION
All of the above, of course, are Kardashian-West style signatures of late (minus, perhaps, the masterful reworking reference). The pair have, of course, been close friends for many years, a relationship that began when he was one of the first (and probably only) high-end designers to happily dress her for the red carpet when she was nothing but a reality television star with a questionable private video background.
Kim and Kourtney front row at Balmain SS17
Credit: Instagram @kimkardashian
So tight is the friendship, Kimye have even starred in a Balmain advertising campaign and most recently wore the brand to the Met Ball. Today, she sat front row with sister Kourtney, both dressed in rope crochet-knit pieces from the runway collection. Later that night, Kim stepped out at the brand’s show afterparty in the same signature dress worn by Natasha Poly on the runway.
Natasha Poly on the Balmain SS17 runway
Credit: NOWFASHION
Same dress, different girl. Kim and Kanye outside the Balmain afterparty
Credit: Getty Images
The show itself was in keeping with Rousteing’s love for modern opulence. Floor-length skirts were made sexy with skin-baring bustiers and sheer fabrics. Bat wing tops in rich satin fabrics and jewel tones spoke to the Studio 64 seventies, as did glittering lame fabrics that clung to the model’s bodies, which were the central theme to the show. (Olivier’s woman loves her curves.)
Balmain SS17
Credit: NOWFASHION
There were as many stars on the runway as there were in the front row – the usual suspects, but in bountiful supply. Doetzen, Jourdan, Constance, Stella, Alessandra, Natasha and of course, Gigi, brought their own brand of glamour to the dramatic collection. The take-home message? Those waist-cinchers Kim’s so enamoured with right now are here to stay – for 2017 at least.
See every Balmain SS17 runway look here.
Model Maria Borges, who walked in the show, wearing Balmain outside the afterparty
Credit: Getty Images
