The Balmain Spring 2019 Haute Couture collection highlighted volume, geometric shapes and relied on more than a million Swarovski crystal pearls, stones and beads.

Rousteing explained that he sees his haute couture as bridging the Balmain of the past with today. “While relying on our atelier’s strengths of traditional craftsmanship, tailoring and artisans, I’ve also tried to bring the mindset of my generation into the Balmain Couture offering,” said Oliver Rousteing.

The collection featured exaggerated, reimagined ’80s volumes and ultra-pretty pastels were the fulfillment of a long-held fantasy. “Let’s be dreamy and inspirational,” he said. The perls appeared as giant Balmain-emblazoned orbs encircling wrists and carried in hand; they were the obvious reference for bulbous skirts molded in leather; and they were applied in bounteous quantities to lattices of ornamentation, from suits to jeans.

The venue was the forthcoming flagship on Rue Saint-Honoré, still in a state of incompletion.

Get a behind the scenes look at Olivier Rousteing’s first Couture Show for Balmain.