“This show is an open letter to Jean Paul, an open letter of love,” Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing announced before showing his couture collection for the brand to the world yesterday. With Gaultier handing over the reigns of his brand to a guest designer for each couture season, we are always in for something new and Rousteing managed to marry classic Gaultier design with a sense of renewed youth.

In a somewhat uncommon move, the show opened with menswear-inspired by the 1994 tattoo collection. One particular look shows a recreation of a top that once read ‘safe sex forever’ with the new version reading ‘liberty, equality, inclusivity.’ A subtle, yet noticed, nod to the state of the current western world.

The collection is a masterclass in showcasing craftsmanship. From a model being dressed as the brand's iconic ‘lemale’ eau de parfum, to a full-length gown made from wicker!

Perhaps the reason for the success of this collection in the imaginations of fashion lovers is due to Rousteing’s clear appreciation for the brand. “I think it put me out of a box,” he explained, “Because sometimes it’s so easy to put a letter on my forehead and say, “you know how to do that.” Admiring the brand since boyhood, Rousteing put on the most humble homage to this evocative brand.