Pierre Balmain’s 1950s Fashion: Elegance and Glamour

Pierre Balmain was a big name in fashion in the 1950s. He was known for making clothes that were both fancy and easy to wear. He wanted women to look and feel their best, and his designs did just that.

One of the things that made Balmain’s clothes stand out was how well they were made. He used high-quality materials like silk, satin, and wool. He also paid a lot of attention to details, making sure every stitch and button was perfect. This made his clothes last a long time and look amazing.

Balmain’s designs were very feminine. He liked using flowing fabrics and soft lines to create clothes that made women look graceful. He also used a lot of embroidery and beading to add a touch of sparkle and shine. His evening gowns were especially popular, and many famous actresses and socialites wore them to big events.

The “Jolie Madame” look was one of Balmain’s most famous designs. It was a fitted suit with a nipped-in waist and a full skirt. It was both stylish and practical, and women could wear it for many different occasions. Another famous design was the “New Look” dress. It had a tiny waist, a full skirt, and a rounded bust. This dress was a symbol of the 1950s and was copied by many other designers.

Balmain’s designs were not just for special occasions. He also made everyday clothes that were stylish and comfortable. He designed sweaters, skirts, blouses, and pants that women could wear to work or for running errands. These clothes were often made from simpler fabrics like cotton or linen, but they still had the same attention to detail that made Balmain’s clothes special.

#1 Gigi Terwalgne in an evening gown with a voluminous plaid taffeta skirt and a green taffeta bustier that laces up the back by Pierre Balmain, 1951.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Marie-Thérèse in an evening gown of pale blue embroidered chiffon by Pierre Balmain, 1952.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Balmain mannequin Marie-Thérèse models his evening gown accented with a leopard hat and muff, 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 Dovima in a redingote of Celanese acetate and silk by Pierre Balmain, 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Lisa Fonssagrives in the “Poppy” gown by Pierre Balmain, 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 Marie-Thérèse in Balmain’s famous sheath of embroidered paillettes in a leopard spot design, 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 A model in a midnight blue chiffon dance dress strewn with sparkling sequins by Pierre Balmain, 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 Ann Farrar in a pale blue ottoman dress, the bodice has buttoned tabs as do the pockets, the skirt is wide with an inverted pleat, by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Geneviève Richard in a summer suit of lilac and purple linen, the curved jacket has a bib front by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Lucie Daouphars in a lightweight glazed wool suit, the jacket has rounded shoulders and a shawl collar, tied at the waist with cord of the same material by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 Marie-Thérèse in a gold brocade coat of Persian design, a high stand-up collar of mink that extends down the front, by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Marie-Thérèse in a silk floral print dress by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 Ghislaine Arsac in the perfect holiday dress, black velvet embroidered with sprigs of green holly and red berries by Pierre Balmain, 1955.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 A model in a short little dance dress of red satin with an upturned circle neckline and belled skirt by Pierre Balmain, 1955.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Jacky Mazel in a red Shetland wool suit, the fitted jacket has a small bow at the waist, worn with a leopard fur muff and hat by Pierre Balmain, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Marie-Thérèse in Balmain’s elegantly tailored flannel suit named “Jolie Madame”, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Balmain’s dress and matching coat lined in fur, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Balmain’s evening gown called “Erato”, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Joanna McCormick in a garnet red print chiffon sheath, bloused over a leather belt, an air-vent in the back and a fan pleat train, by Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Marie-Thérèse in Balmain’s plaid wool coat of assembled panels, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 Marina Nicolaïdes in a crepe sheath dress and short jacket in a blue and green rose print by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 A model in a coral speckled tweed two-piece, a very short jacket with a criss-cross neckline and short sleeves, by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Simone d’Aillencourt in an exquisite satin evening gown in sapphire blue and garnet red, a sash and stole are in gray satin, by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 Simone d’Aillencourt in a lilac wool suit, the collar and lapels are widened and the jacket tilts slightly to the back, by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 Simone d’Aillencourt in a pink crepe de chine floral party dress by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Simone d’Aillencourt in a roomy blue coat whose effect of a short cape at the back is given by the cut and sleeve setting, collarless and one large button-closure, by Pierre Balmain, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Balmain’s town dress and coat modeled here by Barbara Cailleux, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Barbara Cailleux in a printed silk dress, long-waisted with a short bolero top, by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Bronwen Pugh (Lady Astor) in a silk floral print ensemble by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Bronwen Pugh (Lady Astor) in a wool wrap coat with a red fox collar and cuffs by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Gunila in a lovely pale lilac velvet dress, the strapless bodice is wrapped in pale green faille ribbon with a corsage of violets, by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 A model is wearing Balmain’s print ensemble from the Spring/Summer collection of 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Simone d’Aillencourt in a gala evening gown of silk faille skirt with an embroidered satin top, by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Simone d’Aillencourt in a striking red and black wool suit by Pierre Balmain, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 Balmain’s evening gown called “Nuit à Trianon”, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Dorothy is wearing Balmain’s short fur jacket, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 A model in Balmain’s fur jacket, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 A model in a long velvet skirt reminiscent of the Renaissance, the bodice is richly embroidered chiffon, by Pierre Balmain, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 A model is wearing a town suit called “Lexique” from Balmain’s Spring collection of 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Sondra Peterson in a pale lilac silk mousseline dress, belted and pleated by Pierre Balmain, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote