After last season’s shake up/meltdown at Balmain where Christophe Decarnin was replaced with Olivier Rousteing I was super curious to see how this collection would do.

Rousteing didn’t entirely challenge the 4 previous season of rockstar leather and studded glam, but he did inject a tiny bit of freshness into a look that was wearing thin. For Spring 2012 Balmain seemed to be all about an Art Deco Western mash-up. There was plenty of embellishment on mini dresses and the pocket flaps, welts and button plackets of Western shirts, as well as a lone floral pattern which, while subtle and beautiful, seemed out of place.  Trousers were thankfully offered in silhouettes apart from the standard skinny Balmain/Emanuelle Alt fare, and the jackets were cut super super well. This is a good start for Rousteing as designer at Balmain and I look forward to seeing more or his work. -RS (Images via fashiongonerogue.com)