The rumor had been circulating for weeks, and it’s now official. Olivier Rousteing joins Rabanne as artistic director, succeeding Julien Dossena. At 40, the designer is taking on a new canvas after shaping Balmain’s image for more than a decade. His first collection will be unveiled during the Paris Fashion Week in March 2027.
Olivier Rousteing leaves the House of Balmain
Olivier Rousteing is leaving Balmain. After fourteen years of transforming the house into an icon of glamour and power, the designer is turning the page. [Read more]
Appointed Balmain’s creative director at just 25, Olivier Rousteing quickly forged a distinctive look: bold shoulders, sculpted lines, lavish embroidery, and glamour with no half-measures. He also pulled the house out of the insiders’ circle by weaving close ties with music, celebrities, and social media. Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian have worn his creations, helping to cement Rousteing as one of the most high-profile designers of his generation.
His arrival at Rabanne is no misstep. Since its inception, the house has cultivated a futuristic, experimental vision made of metal and unexpected materials, far from conservative cuts and conventional fabrics. A vocabulary that may well mirror Rousteing’s appetite for couture armor, architectural volumes, and show-stopping pieces that catch the light.
The question is how the designer will fuse his own signature with Paco Rabanne’s heritage. The stakes are high: injecting fresh energy without erasing the house’s identity under an avalanche of sequins. The verdict will be on the runway in March 2027.
Olivier Rousteing leaves the House of Balmain
