Olivier Rousteing has officially departed from Balmain after serving as the fashion house's artistic director for 14 years. In 2022, the renowned designer opened the doors of his spectacular Parisian home to American Vogue, offering a rare glimpse into his private sanctuary.
Born on September 13, 1985, in Bordeaux, Rousteing was appointed head of creative design at Balmain at just 25 years old. Taking over from Christophe Decarnin in 2011, he became one of the youngest artistic directors of a major Parisian fashion house. Throughout his fourteen-year tenure, Rousteing transformed the brand while preserving its cultural heritage, reinventing signature pieces with his signature use of sequins and shoulder pads.
The designer created a devoted community around himself, with his models often nicknamed the "Balmain Army." His legendary muses included iconic figures like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer. Rousteing dressed A-list celebrities ranging from musicians like Beyoncé and Rihanna to personalities such as Kim Kardashian and Carla Bruni. He officially stepped down from his position at the fashion house on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Rousteing's Paris home, featured in Vogue's "Objects of Affection" video series, reveals a rare urban oasis designed as a loft according to the designer's personal taste. He personally oversaw the renovation work for an entire year, transforming the property through carefully selected antiques, noble materials, and precious accent pieces that illuminate the interior spaces.
The video tour begins with images from a photo album showing baby Olivier, as the designer shares how precious a photograph taken on November 10, 1995 – the day his parents adopted him from an orphanage – is to him. This sets the tone as he prepares to discuss the cherished objects that define his daily life. With its triangular roof featuring a glass ceiling covered with wooden blinds, the house resembles an elegant seaside villa, punctuated by industrial touches including exposed brick and darker tones featuring black marble and wrought iron pieces.
The home's entrance leads to an almost ethereal staircase without risers that appears suspended, opening into a space where natural light reigns supreme. Rousteing explains how he decorated his interior by accumulating his fetish objects and collecting designer pieces and antiques. His golden eagle elegantly set with an amethyst was discovered at the Saint-Ouen flea market, where he experienced what he calls true "love at first sight." This extremely rare piece from the early 19th century brings a sense of serenity to the home. "I have faith in stones and their powers," he confides, noting that amethyst is particularly renowned for its calming properties.
The bathroom reveals its own collection of vintage pieces, including golden faucets sculpted in the shape of swans. Rousteing's daily routine unfolds through the various rooms of his home. He begins each day with freshly squeezed orange juice in his kitchen, which features Mediterranean and Moroccan influences, served on a wooden table carved from a tree sourced from southern France. "I have a huge kitchen, but I don't know how to cook," he smiles.
The tour continues to his basement indoor swimming pool, a private space that inspires dreams. The swimming lane sits alongside a wall entirely decorated with bamboo and features a cocktail bar for more festive evenings. In the living room, the designer enjoys sketching his designs and working in natural daylight, surrounded by a lush décor where green plants abound – a palm tree even climbs from the ground floor toward the upper level, drawn by this rare and beautiful skylight. It's an unsuspected oasis in the heart of the capital.
The article also explores the history of Pierre Balmain's residence, the founder of the eponymous fashion house. Pierre Balmain lived in an Art Deco emblem – the Walter Buildings, located between Boulevard Suchet, Avenue du Maréchal-Maunoury, Rue Ernest-Hébert, and Place de Colombie. These buildings were designed by architect Jean Walter, who drew his references from the Art Deco era while working in various fields including luxury real estate, hospitality, and worker housing.
Jean Walter was also responsible for the Beaujon Hospital in Clichy, the first hospital designed like a skyscraper on the outskirts of Paris, built between 1933 and 1935. The building is recognizable by its brick facade and twelve floors – when it emerged from the ground, it was nicknamed the "skyscraper of suffering." The Walter Buildings were constructed in 1930 as a utopian garden city, with blocks adorned by flowered and lush terraces that stood out in the Parisian landscape, revealing apartments with extraordinary volumes for the era.
Pierre Balmain wasn't the only notable resident of the Walter Buildings. Catherine Deneuve, Pierre Guerlain, and Serge Dassault all lived there over the years. Rumors persist that Josephine Baker attended grand parties there. More recently, television host Arthur resided in a 700-square-meter triplex with a terrace, which was later sold to a foreign buyer.
