OutLoud is a fashion blog created out of love for fashion brands and designers. It must have all started when I was little, since I was raised in a fashion store. Years later, I did my studies in fashion and started working in the field. Soon, I decided to create OutLoud and do my part the way I know best. A bit of humor is all needed when sharing the latest fashion trends. Right? Currently we are exploring the collections of major fashion brands for spring/summer 2021. Have a seat!
Nowadays companies are talking about diversity. They want to prove to the public they embrace diversity and have made inclusivity one of their core values. Before we continue unravelling our thoughts, let's think for a bit. What is currently defined as diversity and inclusivity? --- Diversity: the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. Inclusivity: the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to other minority groups. --- In a perfect society, diversity and inclusion would mean letting any person enter, or the chance to enter, a group of people. In such a world, we would not even think, nor be preoccupied, of other people's color, way of dressing, sexual orientation, gender, among many many others....
Fashion brand Balmain, SS21 collection by Olivier Rousteing. A world shaped by community, heritage and optimism!
Ok! What if I asked you to describe Balmain SS21 in a few words? What would you choose? Huh? For me, it is all about pagoda shoulders, bike shorts, blazer jackets, denim, PB pattern, neon colors, and black and white. Aha! Would it be the same for you? Think for yourself while watching the video below.
No matter what's said in the beginning, if you look closely enough, there are three important concepts that stand out in the show. And these, my friends, areeee... Community, Heritage and Optimism. Let's have a closer look. Shall we?
The show takes place at Jardin des Plantes in Paris. And as every show that respects itself, this one should also have its guests. What if they come on LG screens in the first three rows, though? Well, they still are guests... Soo, that's how we build our.... Community! Merging with the rest of the people who physically attend the show. As the designer said, the sense of community and the necessity for it reinforced themselves during the pandemic times. “Being forced apart taught us just how much we actually depend on being together,” Rousteing shared.
“Fashion’s post-confinement efforts have made very clear that design thrives when there is constant dialogue, exchange of ideas and shared experiences—and we are all trying to find new ways to make that happen.”
Apparently, 58 OLED screens with celebrities, such as Anna Wintour and Jennifer Lopez, on them could definitely contribute that way!
Heritage reaches its peak at the exact beginning of the show. Pierre Balmain's voice echoes around the room. Mostly in french, but later in english as well -for some poor little souls like us. Among all, he said:
“Black is the only color young people can wear more successfully than old people. A young girl dressed in black is always tremendously beautiful. An older woman in black can be dreary. That’s why black is not an old color, it’s a young color. Black velvet is the epitome of young and sexy. Because there is also a touch of sex in fashion now.”
And this is the point where we also see older models wandering around Olivier Rousteing and the entire stage with an easy, breezy attitude, while wearing their black, white and grey printed ensembles with a freshly ''baked'' pattern from Balmain's archives. As Rousteing said, “We’ve recently updated and re-introduced Monsieur Balmain’s PB pattern, which was originally inspired by his fascination with the intricate labyrinths of French Renaissance gardens. Our archives are filled with ready-to-wear, accessory and couture designs from the early ‘70s that Pierre Balmain covered with variations of that motif.”
Anddd...the heritage continues...anddd...the history keeps rolling with the SS21 creations as later seen on the runway. We see strong-shouldered blazers, head-to-toe neon ensembles with pointed shoulders annddd... what elsee? Pointed Shouldeeerrs! You got it! Bike shorts, oversized jackets, draped wrap blouses, oversized knit vests, long lean flares, sustainable denim.....and the list goes on...wiiiithhh...Swarovksi baby! Two million upcycled Swarovski crystals!
Yep! Apparently, they are a big part of the brand's DNA, since Pierre Balmain used to honor them on many of his creations. And, of course, Olivier Rousteing took the chance to hit the concept off with both sustainability and glamor crashing the ceiling.
And this is when the Optimism takes hold, you guyyss! This sparkle is transformed to party dresses, worn by barefeet models, signifying that this corona shit won't take much longer! Other, even stronger dimensions of Optimism manifest through Olivier's words:
“After all, it was not too long ago that someone like me was never meant to end up in the position that I occupy today. Change happens. Advancements may require determined engagement, but progress is always possible.”
Make sure you progress through your determined engagement of watching the full collection here.
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