Fashion Editor Keyonna Butler covers the collaboration between Beyonce and Balmain
The queen is back with a new look. In celebration of her astonishing album “Renaissance” Beyoncé’ and Olivier Rousteing of Balmain have joined forces to create the first wearable album that is Renaissance Couture. When the album first dropped last summer, it had everyone in a frenzy including Oliver Rousteing. He was so inspired by the body-moving melodies that instead of going on vacation, he found himself sketching looks that could be embedded into the album.
Rousteing spoke with Vogue and goes on to say, “I was sketching and sketching as I listened, and sometimes you can’t control the emotion of your sketch. And I started to imagine the sketches inside her album, how they would relate to the songs and the lyrics — it wasn’t something I was supposed to be doing but I was just inspired by the music to do it. And that’s how this started.”
The collection was a collaboration between Oliver Rousteing, Beyonce’s stylist Marni Senofonte and of course the alien superstar herself, Beyonce’. Each piece was inspired by the 16 track album and features a bustier in hammered metal by the sculptor Elie Hirsch, black velvet embroidered dress with pink feathers, a hooded draped dress in shiny black velvet and so many incredible looks inspired by both the album and the style of 80’s glamor.
This collection comes right off the back of Beyonce’ and Adidas calling it quits after their 5 year partnership, maybe proving that Beyonce’ is ready to up the ante when it comes to her fashion brand, Ivy Park. This fashion line is also historic for it not only being the first couture collection inspired by an album but also the first time both a Black man and a Black woman has overseen the couture offering from an historic Parisian house. The collection overall is a magical personification of the Renaissance album and also the campy but alluring culture of house music and ballroom culture. I wouldn’t be surprised if more artists in the future collaborate with fashion giants to promote their latest albums.
I’m very excited to see how these looks will evolve over time and if we will see any sightings of the Beyonce x Balmain Renaissance Couture collection. One place you can see it is on the cover of Vogue France, making this the first appearance of Beyonce on the cover. This collection is definitely one for the books and only adds to the renaissance of Beyonce’.