Balmain's A/W 23 Menswear Campaign Pays Homage To France's Golden Jazz Era

Great artists know no boundaries when it comes to self-expression. Recognising this, Olivier Rousteing embarked on a journey back to the mid-sixties in Saint Germain, a historic district in Paris where jazz artists mingled with painters, philosophers, and poets. For the Balmain Men's Fall 2023 collection, he drew inspiration from a time when Pierre Balmain crafted his silhouettes in a city pulsating with the rhythms of swing.

For A/W 23 menswear, Rousteing reintroduces the legacy of Pierre Balmain with vibrancy, seamlessly blending elements from women's fashion into menswear and bridging the gap between the two. Legendary tailored suits with broad shoulders emerge in bright colours, adorned with crystals, while prints are inspired by the contrasting marble squares of Versailles and the Loire Valley châteaux. Leather coats and accessories are covered in classic patterns, including the reimagination of signature Unicorn trainers in neoprene and monogram leather.

French photographer Thibaut Grevet, renowned for his artistic collaborations with Travis Scott and Dua Lipa, was invited to capture the dynamic essence of the collection. His signature blurred aesthetics convey the energy and spontaneity of Balmain suits and jazz enthusiasts, breathing new life into the Balmain house archives to inspire an exciting new era.