THE BALMAIN ICONIC JACKET
THE HOUSE SIGNATURES
Since its debut in Pierre Balmain’s first collection in 1945, the tailored jacket has remained a cornerstone of the House’s aesthetic. Inspired by the sharp structure and symbolism of the Breton sailor's uniform, Balmain's original jacket was a bold reinterpretation of functional elegance—masculine in its authority, yet resolutely feminine in its silhouette.
1 / 2
Balmain’s post-war designs ushered in a new era of French fashion: precise tailoring, sculptural shoulders, and nipped-in waists defined what the designer called “Jolie Madame”—a vision of beauty that was both commanding and refined. Pierre Balmain was deeply passionate about the connection between couture pragmatism and the utilitarian design of uniforms. The six-button jacket quickly became a signature, with its double-breasted fronts and gold buttons adding a regal, maritime allure.
Over the decades, this timeless piece evolved into the Balman uniform for the modern era. Under the creative direction of designers like Erik Mortensen and Oscar de la Renta, the jacket retained its core codes while adapting to the times—shoulders grew more pronounced in the 1980s, silhouettes softened in the '90s, and details became more opulent in the 2000s.
FAR FROM A TRADITIONAL BLAZER
Balmain’s DB may have classic touches, but this is clearly not your parents’ jacket— sleek styling makes this icon a favorite of sports, music and film stars—as well as a daily go-to for Olivier Rousteing himself.
CONFIDENCE-BOOSTING
The bold placement of six golden B-emblazoned buttons on the front of the house’s blazers and coats is one of the Balmain’s most recognizable signatures. And, as anyone who has ever slipped on one of those famous six-button jackets can attest, the Balmain atelier’s flawless tailoring injects a sort of magic, confidence-boosting power directly into those blazers.
A POWERFUL OPENING MOMENT
You may recall one of this house’s most memorable Paris Fashion Week moments. Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain Fall 2020 runway opened with a bang—as 20 models marched out in perfect unison, each clad in the latest take on the house’s iconic six-button coats.
1 / 4
CONSTANTLY PUSHING NEW POSSIBILITIES
Each season, Olivier Rousteing loves pushing the limits of the house’s signature DB jacket, playing with new cuts, fabrics, button shapes—or sometimes just eliminating the buttons completely.
Today, the Balmain jacket is more than a garment—it is a statement of empowered elegance. A symbol of strength, sophistication, and continuity, it connects generations of craftsmanship, creativity, and confident femininity.
THE BALMAIN LABYRINTH
THE BALMAIN CODES