BALMAIN, PIERRE

(1914-1982)

   Born in the Savoie region of France, Balmain opened his couture house, Maison Balmain, in Paris in 1945. He is known for his beautifully executed and luxuriously embellished designs. Balmain was a dear friend and colleague of Christian Dior. In 1993, Oscar de la Renta, the first American to head a couture house in Europe, refocused the house of Balmain on elegant fashion and did so for almost ten years. By the start of the twenty-first century, the house was struggling for an identity that could respect chez Balmain and yet appeal to the present clientele. In 2005, the company hired Christopher Decarnin, formerly at Paco Rabanne, to carry out this directive. The Balmain House came to life in 2006 with a nod to its past of beautifully draped and constructed pleated gowns with a contemporary twist.

   See also Haute Couture.