Despite our complaints last season, Balmain’s creative director of several years, Olivier Rousteing, continues to serve as the brand’s campaign photographer (because what’s good for Karl Lagerfeld, right?). As we head into the new season, Rousteing ditches the established, big-name models in favor of Valery Kaufman, Tami Williams, Aleyna Fitzgerald, Kiko Arai, Katrin Zakharova and Roosmarijn de Kok. Photographed amongst the lavish and opulent surroundings of the Château de Baronville in France, the girls endeavor to make the shoot look like a whole lot of fun, playing to Rousteing’s camera in Balmain’s coveted new collection.
Our no-holds-barred forum members went all in the moment the campaign struck. “Tragic photos. Tragic cast,” slammed simon.
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Olivier needs to leave the photography to the pros. The angles are so unflattering, it’s all one big blob of tackiness,” wrote GivenchyHomme.
“His photography skill are like his lips: ONE BIG MESS. It looks like he’s trying to be Karl,” pointed out GreyVetiver.
Also not loving the campaign was Benn98. “Well, admittedly I wasn’t expecting to be bowled over when I read the title. Glad it’s in color, and I like the energy and that it’s so glossy, but the photography is trite and the cast is so random. Maybe Olivier should develop his ‘style’ elsewhere and not on the campaigns of Balmain,” he stated.
“What an absolute mess,” said Nomar.
“Are they having financial problem that can’t afford a decent photographer?” asked Koibito.
Mikel wasn’t feeling the outcome either: “Everything looks so cheap and C-list. All the shots are too cluttered, without a good composition. This is all slowly turning into a D&G-type level of cheap and stale repetitiveness.”
Care to even see more? Check out the rest of the campaign and drop us a comment here.
