TwitterSupermodels, assemble!
Olivier Rousteing—Balmain mastermind and apparent high fashion ring leader—is flexing his model casting muscles today, with not one or two or even three A-listers strutting down his Paris Fashion Week spring 2016 runway. The final headcount here is a whopping eight.
Now, take a deep breath before rattling off this guest list call sheet—ready? Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Jourdan Dunn were obvious picks for the show, seeing as they're all resident Balmain muses and currently starring in the designer's H&M collaboration ads.
And considering Bella Hadid's made a giant splash in New York, London and Milan this season, she clearly earned her spot on the stage among the other supermodels heavyweights present this morning. Joan Smalls was also on deck at the runway show, accompanied by Victoria's Secret Angels Lily Aldridge and Alessandra Ambrosio, plus former VS darling Doutzen Kroes.
With a top-tier lineup like this, did you seriously expect the front row to be lacking in celebs? Nope! Kris Jenner and beau Corey Gamble were front and center to cheer on Kendall, plus Gigi's ultra-supportive boyfriend Joe Jonas (Note: He's been at almost all of her shows this season, aw). Even Jada Pinkett Smith made a cameo in the Balmain showing (she's a big fan of Mr. Rousteing's work, mind you). The only regulars missing from the crowd were Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, but taking into account they're expecting baby number two, skipping the plane ride to Paris right now is more than understandable.
While Olivier isn't the only designer with a few celebrity besties, he's certainly one of the sacred few who can recruit these famous BFFs for his runway interests. Actually, his only real model-recruiting rival this season would be Diane Von Furstenberg, who mustered up seven big-name supermodels for her NYFW show (yep, Gigi, Kendall, Bella, Jourdan and Lily walked for DVF as well).
Perhaps the du jour supermodels have some super-secret pact about which shows they will and won't walk in? Either way, the squad goal power here is real, and at this rate, the Balmain army is just going to keep picking up more top-notch recruits.