Pierre Balmain was one of the earliest designers to grasp the power of celebrity in fashion. The French couturier built close relationships with the superstars of his era, dressing them for the stage and screen — a legacy that continues under the house’s current creative director, Olivier Rousteing .

When Balmain launched his namesake house in post-war Paris, he introduced a waist-cinched silhouette that quickly became a favorite among the celebrity set. He dressed icons such as Josephine Baker, Brigitte Bardot, Katharine Hepburn and Sophia Loren, helping define the visual language of 20th-century fame.

Baker became a longtime collaborator, with Balmain designing elaborate, symbolic and glamorous ensembles for her film and stage performances. One standout was the 1951 “Four Seasons

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