WTF

[Catfood]

Looks like the croc leather is missing some buttons

[zamb]

as a designer i am always reluctant to comment on designers prices, but this is a stupid piece and I would love to see the idiot who buys this at this price............

[Faust]

This is truly next level WTF, lol.

[Aleks]

it's only 55,809 cad.

[AKA*NYC]

i like balmain.

[Catfood]

No doubt this shit is the first thing that will be sold out at some stores.

I think quite a lot of it makes it to sale. This site has quite a lot of balmain on sale, even a quite a few of the more "iconic" pieces like the jacket with the extreme shoulders..

Personally I find the appeal of Balmain is a bit of a mystery, I get that people may like the aesthetic even if I don't really like it myself. What surprises me though is that people are willing to pay the prices despite so many pieces just looking poorly made. The crocodile jaket on lvr with the missing buttons for example, or the really cheap looking trim on the quilted leather jacket on the site i linked.

[delphine]

gonna have to be a high-priced hooker that cops these

The entire collection is indeed far from justifibly priced. What's interesting to me is that the heels seem only slightly over the prices of comparable brands... the jeans are actually priced above the shoes.

I would like to listen in on the team discussing pricing.. I wonder if they know it's ridiculous or if they are so delusioned that they think these pieces actually carry such value.

[Fade to Black]

i like balmain.

so do I.

Call me idealist, but I'd like to think Decarnin's intention is to sell the idea of this look and those who appreciate it will do with the inspiration accordingly...but of course, you need the sucker who walks into the shop and orders 10 pairs of distressed jeans and a croc jacket.

[Fade to Black]

The entire collection is indeed far from justifibly priced. What's interesting to me is that the heels seem only slightly over the prices of comparable brands... the jeans are actually priced above the shoes.

I would like to listen in on the team discussing pricing.. I wonder if they know it's ridiculous or if they are so delusioned that they think these pieces actually carry such value.

As it is, I think the pricing, not the actual clothes, define the brand's appeal and niche. They carry value in the marketing, image separated from status quo, and herd-following sense.

[delphine]

As it is, I think the pricing, not the actual clothes, define the brand's appeal and niche. They carry value in the marketing, image separated from status quo, and herd-following sense.

Which to me is worthless. snake oil. I could afford Balmain, I suppose, but I think I would feel rotten about throwing away money on such a product. On the other hand, I've picked up a couple Poell pieces that work for me.. to me that's a pretty good value in the quality, functionality, and aesthetic sense, despite being quite pricey.

[Fade to Black]

well, like i said, the "value" of Balmain and its pricing schemes aren't founded first and foremost in 'quality, functionality,' or even 'aesthetic sense,' to a certain degree...

[metin]

It's just sad to see how Decarnin turned all his early momentum into this. I mean, I'm not a personal fan of the aesthetic, but when Decarnin was first given control of the label, he did a lot to revitalize the old shapes and motifs that Pierre Balmain developed. The lanterns and bell shapes of his first few seasons were modern but still looked distinctly Balmain-esque. I didn't even have much issue as he started injecting more "rock and roll" into the house, because once you start dressing Hollywood, it's kind of a thing that happens. The disappointing thing is that instead of using those as stepping stones towards developing the house, he's just literally rehashing his previous work for commercial security. You can't blame him, but the fact is that Balmain has become a label and not a design house.

[ironman]

fake Juun J. fur hood chesterfield coat..click me for high-res runway photo comparison

[V-J]

didnt know where to post this...but ann has this kinda treasure box thing?

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r61084495

[Nospheritu]

didnt wear to post this...but ann has this kinda treasure box thing?

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r61084495

This is fukubukuro, a kind of surprise bag sold by shops in Japan to clear out older merchandise. The total value of what's inside is usually between 4~10x the price of the bag. I tried Isetan Men's this year to get one but it seems they sold them out fast. Hard to beat the vulture -> auction buyers...