Pierre Balmain in Manila ’69

Top French designer Pierre Balmain came to Manila in May 1969 for a fashion show at Hotel Intercontinental, with no less than the First Lady, Imelda Marcos, as guest of honor.

Balmain was noted for his sophisticated and elegant clothes, worn by the likes of the Duchess of Windsor, Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Vivien Leigh and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

He won in 1955 the prestigious Neiman Marcus Fashion Award for his ready-to-wear line. Balmain was also costume designer for several international films and plays in New York (Broadway).

Balmain hired young designers like the German Karl Lagerfeld and Danish Erik Mortesne, who became his longtime partner.

For the Manila audience, Balmain’s French models wore formal and casual clothes which enthralled the audience. Some of them are shown on this page.

Balmain died in 1982, but his vintage couture gowns remained popular and were seen on Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Alexandra Kerry, Tatiana Sorokko, Kate Moss and Kristin Davis, among others. — RKC