Are you ready for #H&MBalmaination ?

Why the H&M Balmain Collaboration Will Be Different From the Others


So the highly anticipated unveiling of the Balmain for H&M collaboration is a fait accompli. Pop Sugar and Vogue both ran an editorials with the lookbook, so without further ado here it is in its full glory:

All Photos are from Vogue.uk: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/favourites-of-vogue/2015/05/balmain-for-hm-wish-list-pieces-from-the-catwalk

Mr. Olivier Rousteing did not disappoint. As anticipated he delivered what he is known for: bold, glitzy, embroidered and belted stretch elegance with his signature accentuated shoulders. Yes baby I love it!

With that said, if you are looking for the natural continuation form the WANG pure minimalism (H&M last high fashion to the street collaboration), now you will be sorely disappointed. With this one H&M deliberately went into the the opposite direction. The truth is that if you already are not into Balmain, this collection, no matter the price tag, is not likely to convince you to become part of the #BalmainNation or to get you in step with the style sported and promoted by the #BalmainArmy  (a/d/b/a Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, etc).

As much as I love Balmain, I must admit that the collection for H&M does feel a bit "yesterday" fashion, especially following on the footsteps of the trends that we saw on the just concluded #fashionweek extravaganza from New York to Milan to Paris. But hay, even if it the Balmain's version of recycling or the NordstromRack of the famed fashion house, I am all in. Time will tell if people will embrace it for what it is or even the celebrity that Rousteing can bring to the billboards will not be able to convince the ranks to stay away from the polished simplicity or the faded, distressed, futuristic numbers we saw on the runaways few weeks ago.

Would you wear it?

XOXO, Mimi