Balmain and Beyoncé Release 'Renaissance' Couture Collection

Style

| LAST UPDATE 04/03/2023

By Elizabeth Russo
Beyonce Olivier Renaissance fashion
Mason Poole/Parkwood Media via Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal

As far as we - and millions of fans - are concerned, Beyoncé can do no wrong. The singer, songwriter, and fashion extraordinaire has been crowned as Queen Bey, and we sure do understand why. The Break My Soul singer linked up with Balmain's Olivier Rousteing to create a collaboration of a lifetime known as "Renaissance couture." Let's take a closer look, shall we?

So, how did this iconic collaboration come to fruition? Following the release of Beyoncé's most recent album, Renaissance, Balmain's creative director Olivier Rousteing was inspired to cook up something fresh. Like the rest of the world, Rousteing was loving B's new album - but unlike the rest of the world, he took his love for the album and turned it into a 17-piece couture collection.

Beyoncé Renaissance Couture Collection
Larry Busacca/PW / Contributor via Getty Images
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 The fashion mastermind found himself "sketching and sketching as I listened [to Renaissance]" as he "started to imagine the sketches inside her album, how they would relate to the songs and the lyrics." He admitted, "it wasn't something I was supposed to be doing, but I was just inspired by the music to do it. And that's how this started." Rousteing contacted the songstress and her stylist and told them point blank, "I want to create a couture collection with you," and they immediately jumped at the opportunity. Duh. So together, the French fashion designer and Queen Bey co-designed a couture collection representing each song from the Renaissance album. However, they did have to cut down from Rousteing's 50 sketches to just 17.

Together, they were able to create a one-of-a-kind high couture collection that truly represents the spirit of both Beyonce as an artist and Balmain as a fashion house. Each of the 17 looks for this extremely special collection was inspired by a certain track, and even more so, a certain lyric from Renaissance. For example, the strong feu d'artifice (fireworks) dress represents the song, Cozy. The black velvet mini dress with elaborate pink feathers and a matching black velvet turban was inspired by B's "anthem about the importance of loving yourself." Each piece carries meaning identified by Olivier and Beyonce, taking this collection to new heights that no one has seen before. Be sure to check out the full collection here.

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