Pierre Balmain founded his now-iconic label in 1945. Alongside fellow couture titans Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, the French designer's postwar take on luxe dressing featured bell-shaped skirts falling from slender waists, structured jackets over sheath day dresses and embellishments like fur trim; he called the look “Jolie Madame.” The Duchess of Windsor was an early fan, prompting an aristocratic following.
From the voluminous skirts of the post-World War II “New Look” favored by Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich to the sleek, skinny jeans seen on Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and every Kardashian, clothes from the House of Balmain have long been mainstays in celebrity wardrobes.
The son of a dressmaker and a drapery salesman, Balmain's founder was born in 1914 in southeastern France and formed an interest in fashion at an early age. His mother wanted her son to be an architect — but the principles of design and structure that Pierre learned in his brief studies at the École des Beaux Arts served him well throughout his career.
Balmain was among the first to offer French looks to the American market. Since the death of the founder in 1982, the design reins at the company have been handed to luminaries such as Oscar de la Renta and Olivier Rousteing, an alum of Roberto Cavalli who was installed as creative director at the label in 2011.
Today’s Balmain has more in common with the master’s original haute couture than you might expect: sharply tailored blazers that nip in at the waist, delicate stilettos and ultra-feminine evening dresses are wardrobe basics for the 21st-century woman, too. Lovers of couture history will also prize the fluid, easy sketches from the master’s own hand they’ll find on offer here, while fashionistas clamor for the brand’s t-shirts, military-style jackets and skinny jeans.
Whether you’re a colonel in Rousteing’s “glamour army” or you fancy yourself a “Jolie Madame,” a Balmain piece — from the 1960s or even last season — will add a bold, sexy note to your look. Daytime or night, Balmain feels right now.
Find vintage Pierre Balmain dresses, skirts, scarves and other garments and accessories on 1stDibs.
$2,179Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Haute Couture Pierre Balmain Green Silk Chiffon Dress with Hand Bead Work
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Firenze, IT
I proudly offer for sale this absolutely stunning evening gown with classic empire shape and a fantastic blend of green silk chiffon dress by ...
Silk, Beads
Vintage Balmain sculptural double Ring, Silver and black resin, stamped & signed
By Pierre Balmain
Located in London, Fitzrovia
Vintage Balmain sculptural double Ring, Silver and black resin, stamped 925 & signed Balmain, Paris. Can be worn in a couple of different ways. UK size approximately K U.S. size...
Silver
$280Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 25 in D 7 in
Handcrafted Silk Lumbar Pillow, Ivory with Beads, Moorish Style, India
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Decorative Ivory color accent lumbar pillow hand embroidered and embellished with sequins and beads. Vanilla Dupioni silk with gold, red and green beads flower designs. Down insert...
Silk
$426Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.72 in Dm 4.34 in
Gucci Shoehorn with Horse Head in Silver Metal and Resin 1980s
By Gucci
Located in Milano, MI
Vintage shoehorn by Gucci with silver metal and resin horse head, made in the 1980s Ø cm 11 h cm 45 The Gucci shoehorn is a luxury accessory that combines functionality and eleganc...
Silver Plate
Ottoman Green Carnation Silk Hand Embroidered Cushion
By Ottoman Touch
Located in London, GB
Immerse yourself in a cushion of history and art with the Ottoman Empire's timeless carnation motifs brought to life through the intricate Suzani embroidery technique. These motifs, ...
Cotton, Silk
Vintage Boho Stamped Croc Mahjong Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This vintage Mahjong set is housed in a sophisticated carrying case that perfectly captures the glamour of mid-century social entertaining. The case is finished in a deep espresso fa...
Brass
$1,200 / set
H 18 in W 18 in D 4 in
Pair of French Couture Blush Silk Velvet Pillows with 19th Century Appliques'
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exquisite and highly romantic pair of couture boudoir pillows, embodying the opulence of French haute couture interiors. Crafted from the most luscious blush pink silk velvet Ea...
Metallic Thread
$220Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 16 in W 16 in D 5 in
Emerald Green Moorish Pillow Embellished with Sequins and Beads
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moorish Throw decorative accent green pillow embroidered and embellished with sequins with metallic threads, gold beads embroidery on emerald green silk damask. Handcrafted in India. Great to use as accent throw pillows in you Moorish Middle Eastern, Bohemian style, Moroccan room, Mughal Indian, Ottoman, Victorian decor...
Fabric
Vintage Double-Sided Pillow, Hand-Crafted Silk & Cotton, Japan, 1960
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful pillow made of silk gold and silver metallic threads, exceptional double side floral motif. New quality insert.
Metallic Thread
Vintage South American Textile Panel, Hand Woven Wool, 1960s
Located in Barrington, IL
Vintage South American hand woven and hand embroidered textile pane. The brilliantly colored textile panel has a silk hand embroidery in the center medallion featuring a pair of birds. The textile has an extremely fine weave and a very high quality handspun wool that was hand dyed with natural vegetable dyes. It would be an ideal piece as wall art. Dimensions: 27” x 44” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: South America Material: Very fine wool fiber with natural vegetable dyes Condition: Wear consistent with age and use The Persian Knot Gallery, SKU: 2249 Vintage South American Textiles, Peruvian Textiles, Indian Textiles, Mexican Handwoven Textiles, Vintage Mexican Textiles...
Cotton, Silk
$1,250
H 3.38 in W 1.94 in D 0.19 in
Exquisite Antique French Silver and Niello Enamel Sculptural Pectoral Cross
Located in New York, NY
Superb, museum quality antique French silver and niello enamel high relief sculptural pectoral cross 19th Century Complex and beautifully rendered crucifix done in finely detailed ni...
Silver, Enamel
$252Sale Price|20% Off
H 2 in W 1 in D 1.25 in
Vintage Bell Southwest Bell Trading Post Turquoise and Sterling Silver Ring
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage Southwest style bell trading post ring with a sterling silver band and a large turquoise stone. Ring size 10.
Sterling Silver
Hand-Painted Green Scales Silk Charmeuse Snake Pillow
By Fort Makers, Naomi Clark
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For Fort Makers, Naomi Clark paints vibrant abstract compositions on fabrics that are then made into useable objects. The Green Scales style is loosely a p...
Silk
Hand-Painted Green Scales Silk Charmeuse Lumbar Pillow
By Naomi Clark, Fort Makers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For Fort Makers, Naomi Clark paints vibrant abstract compositions on fabrics that are then made into useable objects. The Green Scales style is loosely a p...
Silk
Vintage Pierre Balmain Paris Brown Silk Scarf
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Pierre Balmain brown silk scarf. Carre silk foulard accessories by Pierre Balmain Couture Paris. Designed by French designer Pierre Ba...
Silk
Pierre Balmain Headboard in Wood and Brass, Signed, 1980s
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant double bed designed by Pierre Balmain from the France, 1980s. The bed is part of the "Ambience international collection" designed by Pierre Balmain, circa 1980. The bed is made of mahogany wood with brass details. The special feature of the bed is its branding at the tail of the bed with brass trim on the headboard. With Pierre Balmain logo...
Brass
Sold
H 18.51 in W 20.48 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Pierre Balmain Original French Bedside Tables in Wood and Brass, 1980s
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of Classic and elegant original French bedside tables by Pierre Balmain from the 1980s. The nightstands are part of the "Ambience international collection" designed by Pierre B...
Brass
Pierre Balmain Original French Bedside Tables, 1980
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Milan, IT
Astonishing Pierre Balmain original French bedside tables 1980s these pieces are a part of "collection Ambience internationale" designed by Pierre Balmain, circa 1980. This collecti...
Wood
Chic 1970s Pierre Balmain Mink Cardigan Jacket
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A uber chic mink cardigan jacket from the 1970s. In excellent original condition. This mink jacket, designed by Balmain is as chic and modern as when it was designed. Knit trim on po...
Pierre Balmain, My Years and Seasons, 1964
By Pierre Balmain
Located in CA, CA
First edition, published by Cassell, 1964. This autobiography of the famed French fashion designer, Pierre Balmain, offers an insight into his life and work. A self-portrait of Ba...
Numbered Couture 1950s Gown By Pierre Balmain Paris
By Pierre Balmain
Located in Firenze, IT
Pierre Balmain (18th May 1914, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – 29th June 1982, Paris) A fine Marron glacé numbered couture silk gown KARINE 405 LEONORA model, inside Pierre Balmain Paris...
Silk