MONSIEUR

Whenever Olivier Rousteing and other members of the Balmain family reference the house founder, they steer clear of an informal tone—since respect is, of course, due to the trailblazing founder of one of Paris’ most historic houses. That’s reflected in the repeated use of the honorific—for, at 44 rue François Premier, they're definitely not on a first-name basis. It’s Monsieur Balmain, thank you. That aura of earned reverence was the starting point for this oval optical design’s striking rimless silhouette, which stands apart due to impressive artisanal embellishments, including tactile lines pressed into the Japanese titanium, rivets embellishing the top and bottom of each lens, and titanium mesh side caps that have been lasered with the house’s historic Labyrinth logo. Overall, the design honors an authentic and enduring heritage, but make no mistake: this timeless style is a homage to an O.G.—not old-school—house founder.