Founded by Pierre Balmain in 1945, the brand is quintessentially Parisian in flair.

Its collections, which feature richly embroidered fabrics and nipped-in waists, are characterised by Balmain’s signature silhouette of the jolie madame – or ‘pretty lady’. While the house famously remains true to the trailblazing vision of its founder, today Creative Director Olivier Rousteing’s couture spirit – seen in his careful attention to detail – is balanced by the collections’ modernity.