THE STAYING POWER OF OLIVIER ROUSTEING
On a grey winter day in Paris, when a persistent drizzle dishevels even its chicest residents, Olivier Rousteing arrives at the Balmain headquarters in impeccable form. Dressed in all black, he radiates the star power of someone who is perpetually photo-ready. Even at 10am.
Since Rousteing assumed the creative director role at Balmain in 2011, his image has been a billboard for the brand. With 7.9 million followers on Instagram, he represents the modern-day celebrity our digital lives have shaped: The kind who seems glamorous and relatable at once. It’s a paradox he has harnessed since he took on the job at the age of 25, when he became not only the youngest creative director in Paris since Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, but also one of the first Black designers to helm a luxury fashion house.
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