 Breadcrumbs

  



           ![My Life In Fashion: Olivier Rousteing](https://media.sheerluxe.com/vnE16Oh5UC7ZhRGtkVIdlP-5H9Q=/500x221/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-081025-hero-olivier-rousteing.jpg?itok=yNOSvK1S) 

  

 

 ![My Life In Fashion: Olivier Rousteing](https://media.sheerluxe.com/zTQcCJ8SkI0QS-x8VDxMefI0uYs=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-081025-thumb-olivier-rousteing.jpg?itok=dd9aFOdM)

 

 

 



 

 [Interviews](/fashion/interviews)

 /  08 October 2025  

#  My Life In Fashion: Olivier Rousteing  


As creative director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing has redefined a historic house. Since taking over in his mid-20s, he has built a global community around the brand, turned red-carpet moments into viral sensations, and embraced collaborations that blur the lines between culture, fashion and luxury. Ahead of his latest partnership, he sat down with us to talk about his earliest fashion memories, the icons who shaped his eye, and why representation has always been at the heart of his work.  


BySapna Rao

 

[ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/48684)

 

 

 

 

  Images: @Olivier_Rousteing; Balmain; @ZoeNataleMannella; @FranBeltran 

 

 

 

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/vawd-XE8ZXvBX1vK2-T7_QSoOe8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-071025-oliver-rousteing-interview-1.jpg?itok=kYkOidPF)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/) 

 @Olivier_Rousteing; Balmain; @ZoeNataleManella 

 



 

 

 

 

 

**My first big fashion memory is tied to Princess Diana.** I was just a kid, watching the news of Gianni Versace’s funeral on TV, and I remember being completely obsessed with her. She was such an icon, and it was one of the first times I realised how powerful clothes could be in shaping a woman’s image.

**My mother was my first style muse.** She had the most beautiful wardrobe – [YSL](https://www.ysl.com/en-gb), [Balmain](https://gb.balmain.com/en), [Chanel](https://www.chanel.com/gb/) – and such incredible taste. I remember looking at her and thinking, you are my icon. She made me understand the emotion that can come from clothes. Elsewhere, I also found inspiration from my grandfather too.

 

 Becoming creative director in my mid-20s was A CRASH COURSE. You don’t learn how to be a creative director at school – YOU ONLY LEARN BY DOING.  
 

 



 

 

**The show that changed everything for me was Yves Saint Laurent’s farewell.** I was only 11 or 12, but I’ll never forget watching all these incredible women celebrate his genius as he said goodbye. It impressed me so much, and made me want to be part of fashion’s history.

**The first major fashion event I went to was Karl Lagerfeld’s** [**H&amp;M**](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=43250&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.hm.com%2Fen_gb%2Findex.html) **collaboration.** I must have been 16 or 17, and somehow managed to find my way in. I wore one of the pieces from the collection – it felt like stepping into another world.

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/GE_Bi-mVwf9b_1U7cRunuONiku0=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-071025-oliver-rousteing-interview-4.png?itok=EPjgXz5x)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/) 

 Johnnie Walker; @Olivier_Rousteing; Balmain; @ZoeNataleManella 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

**The first celebrity to wear one of my pieces was Rihanna.** That was in 2012, and shortly afterwards Kim Kardashian wore one of my dresses from my very first collection at Cannes. Seeing your work on the red carpet is surreal – it’s when you realise your vision is part of a cultural conversation.

**Becoming creative director in my mid-20s was a crash course**. You don’t learn how to be a creative director at school – you only learn by doing. I remember wanting my first show to be perfect, with no broken heels and no mistakes. By the second show I started to understand what the job really meant: you face criticism, you accept that some people will love what you do and some won’t, and you learn to grow a thicker skin.

**My** [**Johnnie Walker**](https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-gb) **partnership came straight from the heart.** My dad and grandfather used to drink Johnnie Walker at big family occasions, so the smell and the ritual have always been familiar to me. Two and a half years ago I visited Scotland to meet the team, and I realised that blending whisky is its own form of artistry.

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/ubMM63_CZlF5OxrMHVRt0yYRQUQ=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-071025-oliver-rousteing-interview-2.jpg?itok=VuUgcepq)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/) 

 @Olivier_Rousteing; Balmain; @FranBeltran 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Heritage is only relevant if you make it modern.** In my work, I always ask myself what I can take from the past that still feels avant garde today. With Johnnie Walker for example, I was fascinated by the square bottle, which was a radical change when it launched in the 1860s. I wanted to reimagine that heritage in a contemporary way, which is why I created a decanter with a crystal stopper that emphasises its bold, modern shape.

**My personal style is fearless.** I’d call it audacious, progressive and confident. It’s about taking risks and being unapologetic, which I hope comes through in everything I create.

 

 Heritage is only relevant if you MAKE IT MODERN. In my work I always ask myself what I can take from the past that still FEELS AVANT GARDE TODAY.  
 

 



 

 

 

 

 [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/OG0nw3gsvTsrj61sYpxKRyzUEwY=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-071025-oliver-rousteing-interview-3.jpg?itok=WXj3Q8Da)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/) 

 @Olivier_Rousteing; Balmain 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

**My journey has taught me the importance of diversity.** I was adopted by white parents but my biological roots are African – my father was Egyptian and my mother Somalian – so I grew up with culture at the centre of my identity. I’ve always fought to be represented and loved for who I am, which is why diversity and inclusivity are so important in my work. I don’t want anyone rejected for their background or their skin tone – fashion should open doors, not close them.

**Social media has transformed the way we connect.** I've witnessed it help the brands I've worked with build communities, share authentic messages and reach a younger, more approachable audience. More than anything, it embraces the rules of a new generation – one that doesn’t want to feel rejected, but part of something.

*Follow* [@OLIVIER\_ROUSTEING](https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/)

 

 

 

 

  

## *more from*

### Fashion



 [View All Fashion](/fashion) 

  ![The Round Up: Mongolian Coats](https://media.sheerluxe.com/tgJo1qF3T8eWwUkJPTrDSahpgG8=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F12%2Fsl-site-assets-031225-thumb-mongolian-coats.jpg?itok=loRYau07)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  03 December 2025  

 [##  The Round Up: Mongolian Coats  


 

 ](/fashion/mongolian-coats) 

 

 

 

  ![Everything You Need In Your Styling Kit For Event Season](https://media.sheerluxe.com/1sTsnOf4-YKCiabmFTy1veoPve8=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F11%2Fsl-site-assets-251125-thumb-hero-event-season-styling-kit-community.jpg?itok=pUL30Em2)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  25 November 2025  

 [##  Everything You Need In Your Styling Kit For Event Season  


 

 ](/fashion/everything-you-need-in-your-styling-kit-for-event-season) 

 

 

 

  ![Priyanka Chopra Talks Style, Culture & Celebrating Diwali ](https://media.sheerluxe.com/C8ot6i0GjhdmNSFbIViOsxzWtxk=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-221025-thumb-priyanka-chopra-interview.jpg?itok=0OvK-eLY)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  22 October 2025  

 [##  Priyanka Chopra Talks Style, Culture &amp; Celebrating Diwali  


 

 ](/fashion/priyanka-chopra) 

 

 

 

  ![7 Personal Stylists Fashion Insiders Rely On](https://media.sheerluxe.com/grwNBBP_REbgznomBZjLB2hgJrs=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-email-171025-stylist-directory-3.jpg?itok=ifgW0pIi)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  17 October 2025  

 [##  7 Personal Stylists Fashion Insiders Rely On  


 

 ](/fashion/7-personal-stylists-fashion-insiders-rely-on) 

 

 

 

  ![Everything This Fashion Minimalist Has Her Eye On](https://media.sheerluxe.com/x4pr5vuw3-RhWGebGYFV78dp9zE=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-141025-thumb-sam-blush-wishlist.png?itok=UEaXZvA7)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  14 October 2025  

 [##  Everything This Fashion Minimalist Has Her Eye On  


 

 ](/fashion/everything-this-fashion-minimalist-has-her-eye-on) 

 

 

 

  ![6 Cool Things Happening In The Fashion World Right Now](https://media.sheerluxe.com/GjMJ86FXB1WR5HfrpKAXLW__lgM=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-061025-thumb-fashion-news-1.jpg?itok=Tgj-TyuT)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  06 October 2025  

 [##  6 Cool Things Happening In The Fashion World Right Now  


 

 ](/fashion/6-cool-things-happening-in-the-fashion-world-right-now) 

 

 

 

  ![This Cult Brand Has Just Landed In Selfridges](https://media.sheerluxe.com/bOtdnZWO5cl9_AjzP5wZxaJ1GyQ=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-021025-thumb-veronica-beard-3.jpg?itok=Ic9nNVW-)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  02 October 2025  

 [##  This Cult Brand Has Just Landed In Selfridges  


 

 ](/fashion/this-cult-brand-has-just-landed-in-selfridges) 

 

 

 

  ![Go Behind The Scenes At The Barbour LFW Pop-Up](https://media.sheerluxe.com/XYlWQbC2ICeUPpFqwyKwUXVi7dg=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F09%2Fsl-site-assets-260925-thumb-hero-barbour-2.jpg?itok=gpIz9-5t)

  

 

 



 

[Fashion](/fashion)

/

  26 September 2025  

 [##  Go Behind The Scenes At The Barbour LFW Pop-Up  


 

 ](/fashion/go-behind-the-scenes-at-the-barbour-lfw-pop-up) 

 

 

 

  ![The 16Arlington Founder Talks Vision, Brand Building & More](https://media.sheerluxe.com/iH81jcGm_zVsTo6xxk3NwyH6blA=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F11%2Fsl-site-assets-051125-thumb-my-life-in-fashion-marco-capaldo.jpg?itok=Vh0BhvSl)

  

 

 



 

[Interviews](/fashion/interviews)

/

  05 November 2025  

 [##  The 16Arlington Founder Talks Vision, Brand Building &amp; More  


 

 ](/fashion/interviews/the-16arlington-founder-talks-vision-brand-building-more) 

 

 

 

  ![My Life In Fashion: Gaurav Gupta](https://media.sheerluxe.com/PSRul75bW4O7SzN8PNywLnRRqX8=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-site-assets-291025-thumb-my-life-in-fashion-gaurav-gupta.jpg?itok=DSY0ynxm)

  

 

 



 

[Interviews](/fashion/interviews)

/

  29 October 2025  

 [##  My Life In Fashion: Gaurav Gupta  


 

 ](/fashion/interviews/my-life-in-fashion-gaurav-gupta) 

 

 

 

  ![A Cool Brand Expert Shares Her Style Rules](https://media.sheerluxe.com/FyzqZ9zO5t5X7bfwTWKw_F8acMg=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F10%2Fsl-updates-thumb-style-rules.jpg?itok=kQhdI2YC)

  

 

 



 

[Interviews](/fashion/interviews)

/

  03 October 2025  

 [##  A Cool Brand Expert Shares Her Style Rules  


 

 ](/fashion/interviews/a-cool-brand-expert-shares-her-style-rules) 

 

 

 

  ![Image Architect Law Roach Shares His Life In Fashion](https://media.sheerluxe.com/yy1MDk9F-LCTKb-G8QtdvSdAcpI=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F09%2Fsl-site-assets-300925-thumb-interview-law-roach-2_0.png?itok=qcfis3Bk)

  

 

 



 

[Interviews](/fashion/interviews)

/

  30 September 2025  

 [##  Image Architect Law Roach Shares His Life In Fashion  


 

 ](/fashion/interviews/law-roach) 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 



  

 Share This Story

 [Facebook

 ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?display=popup&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com&u=https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Ffashion%2Finterviews%2Fmy-life-in-fashion-olivier-rousteing&t=My+Life+In+Fashion%3A+Olivier+Rousteing) [ Pinterest

 ](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Ffashion%2Finterviews%2Fmy-life-in-fashion-olivier-rousteing&description=My+Life+In+Fashion%3A+Olivier+Rousteing&media=) [ E-mail

 ](<mailto:?subject=My Life In Fashion: Olivier Rousteing&body=Hi%0A%0AI&#039;ve just read this article https://sheerluxe.com/fashion/interviews/my-life-in-fashion-olivier-rousteing and thought you might like it, too.%0A%0ASheerLuxe is your in-the-know friend keeping you up to date with everything new in fashion, beauty, culture, lifestyle %26 home.%0A%0AYou can sign up for the FREE daily newsletter here. https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsignup%3Fseed%3Dsharing%26utm_source%3DWebsite%26utm_medium%3DSL%26utm_campaign%3DEmail%26utm_id%3DSharing>) 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at <info@sheerluxe.com>.

 

 

 

  ##  Fashion. Beauty. Culture. Life. Home 

###  Delivered to your inbox, daily 

 [Subscribe](/signup)