Balmain creative director Christophe Decarnin was missing in action for the label’s fall 2011, but the show went on with Decarnin’s rock and roll aesthetic fully on display. Models strutted down the runway in sparkly sequined tops and pants, white leather and plunging necklines baring a lot of skin. With all the glitter and shine, it seemed that Balmain was looking towards the glam rock phase of music history for its inspiration complete with Ziggy Stardust-esque jumpsuits.
Christophe Decarnin, had left the company. His departure is the latest in a string of shake-ups that suggest, after the John Galliano debacle at Dior, that luxury fashion houses are becoming less interested in promoting lively personalities than in protecting their own brands.
