Fashion Designer
Pierre Balmain

Pierre Balmain

Biography

Pierre Balmain: A French fashion designer,  Known for sophistication and elegance, he once said that "dressmaking is the architecture of movement” was born May 18 1914 in Paris France. Pierre's father, who died when the future designer was seven years old, was the owner of a wholesale drapery business. His mother and her sisters operated a fashion boutique. Balmain studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, but did not complete his studies.

Balmain spent his time there designing dresses. While attending the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Balmain went to Molyneux, who promised to give him a trial. Balmain then left his architectural studies to work for the fashion designer Edward Molyneux, for whom he worked from 1934 until 1939. He joined Lucien Lelong after World War II and opened his own fashion house in 1945. The house showcased long bell-shaped skirts with small waists - a line which later became popular as Dior's New Look.

In 1951 he opened branches in the United States selling ready-to-wear clothes.
During the 1950s, Balmain popularized the stole for day as well as evening wear and created a vogue for sheath dresses beneath jackets. His talent as a designer lay in his ability to make simple, tailored suits as well as grand evening gowns, all with the same aesthetic of slender and elegant lines. Balmain also designed the iconic uniform of the Singapore Airlines Singapore Girl, loosely based on the traditional Indonesian kebaya.

Pierre Balmain Designer Fragrances

Balmain also created designer perfumes, including Vent Vert 1947, his first successful scent and one of the best-selling perfumes of the late 1940's and early 1950's, Jolie Madame 1953, Ivoire 1979, and Eau d'Amazonie 2006 are offered as a discount parfum. His hard to find perfume, launched in 1947, bore his company's Phone Number, Elysées 64-83.

Balmain was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design for Happy New Year 1980. Additional Broadway theater credits include costumes for Sophia Loren in The Millionairess 1960 and Josephine Baker for her eponymous 1964 revue. 

He also was a costume designer for 16 films, including the Brigitte Bardot vehicle And God Created Woman, and designed on-screen wardrobes for the actresses Vivien Leigh and Mae West. He made a lot of dresses for Dalida.

Balmain's 1964 autobiography was titled My Years and Seasons. His companion was the Danish designer Erik Mortensen, who worked as a designer at Balmain from 1948 until 1991. Also the later very successful Danish fashion designer Margit Brandt worked as a young designer with Pierre Balmain in the early 1960s.

Balmain was mentioned in Peter Sarstedt's 1969 hit song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)". Balmain's vintage couture gowns remain chic, sought after and popular among the international jet-set, movie stars and socially prominent women, and have been seen on Angelina Jolie, Penélope Cruz, Alexandra Kerry, Tatiana Sorokko, Kate Moss and Kristin Davis, among others.

Perfume and Cologne

Ambre Gris for women a Balmain perfume launch in 2008: from a collection of brilliant women's perfumes. Exciting perfumes for women. Aroma Notes: Pink pepper, Cinnamon, Tuberose, Myrrh and Benzoin

Balmain for women a powerful women's perfume launched in 1998, Uniquely blended women cologne.  Aroma notes are from a long line of perfumes for women. Aroma Notes: Jasmine, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Rose, Oak-moss, Bergamot and Iris

Balmain for men explores notes of Tonka bean, Mirabelle, Plum Liquorice, Sandalwood, Oak moss and Cardamom.

La Mome for women:  a Pierre Balmain perfume launched in 2007. A glorious women's perfume: strong, mysterious and exciting perfumes for women. Aroma Notes: Freesia, Violet, Raspberry, Pink pepper, Iris, Myrrh, Musk, Opopanax and  Amber.

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