Eyes closed, a warm breeze brushes the face, a limitless horizon stretches out, never-ending on the spherical plane of the earth. If you stand on the coastline—any coastline, maybe the one close, maybe one far, far away—the ocean seems to stretch out forever, infinitely. This infinitude was bottled, like a message sent out to sea, in Balmain’s newest collection, kicking off Paris Fashion Week.

Slouchy silhouettes, seashell shoes and dresses, and swishing tassels donned the runway in Balmain’s Spring Summer 2026 show. Taking inspiration from the boundless earth and those who traveled it, Olivier Rousteing’s ready-to-wear collection is a reflection of his years at the Parisian fashion house. This collection marks the beginning of Rousteing’s new continuum and an evolution of the designs from Balmain over his 14-year tenure as creative director. 

​Models stalked the runway like castaways turned conquerors, their clothes dripping with salt, swagger, and memory. Fringe slashed through the air, sequins flashed like a siren’s warning signals, and silhouettes swayed with the languid tides, beckoning you to the sea. Rousteing’s Balmain drifts and storms, constantly in motion: pleasing and daring all at once.

In the front row, guests—Cara Delevigne, Taylor Hill, Alton Mason, and more—soaked in the warm, beachy, and bohemian designs, catching Balmain’s next wave before it crashed into the wider world.