Balmain hosted an amazing event inside an art-filled mansion in Beverly Hills with see-through floors and an indoor swimming pool that was bathed in pink lights, creating a backdrop for models and guests. The cause for celebration was the fashion house's new Melrose Place boutique and its collaboration with Beats by Dr. Dre. Unlikely to miss a party or major event, Joseph Hobbs “aka The Shadow”, Celebrity Fashion Stylist, and Image Consultant joined Olivier Rousteing (Balmain Creative Director), Kim Kardashian, and other celebrity friends including Kerry Washington, Hailee Steinfeld, Cameron Dallas, Model Poppy Delevingne and actresses Jaime King and Kate Bosworth. Also, in attendance were Migos, Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall of the Chainsmokers Singer Miguel, Giovanna Battaglia, Harry Brant, and Model Ireland Baldwin to celebrate the opening of the French house’s first-ever west coast boutique. The party took place at a private residence in Beverly Hills where guests enjoyed sweeping views of Los Angeles to the sound of music sets by DJ Kiss and DJ M.O.S. as well as a special live performance by Migos. Throughout the evening,

BALMAIN showcased its Resort 2018 women’s and men’s collections. Hobbs along with guests also toasted the launch of BALMAIN Special Edition Beats Studio Wireless.

"Kim has been such an inspiration for so many women, Hobbs told me as we discussed the success of Balmain's very expensive kids' clothes, which has its own dedicated section in the LA store. "No matter what people say, the reality is when she started to dress North, it was really interesting to see how parents start to become really obsessed with [wanting] to dress their kids, as well." Hobbs should know with hundreds of connections in entertainment leading to the launch of a celebrity-inspired store in which items are curated for fans. As he recalls later in the evening, there was a brief fashion show followed by a performance by Migos. Rousteing still refers to Balmain's circle of influential supporters as his #BalmainArmy.

We asked when will Roustering stage a full-fledged runway show — Hobbs told us that he knows it’s something the creative director could consider doing in the future now that the store is open. As he recalls, the event to celebrate the opening hosted by Rousteing was very much an LA party at a private residence in Beverly Hills, which we heard through the grapevine once belonged to Michael Jackson. In addition to the new store, the event also celebrated Balmain's new collaboration with Beats by Dre on a chic set of headphones — another example of Rousteing's ties to pop culture. In fact, Hobbs along with other guests were invited to put on the headphones and listen to playlists compiled by Rousteing while exploring little activations on the property; one was set up to resemble a desert landscape, another to feel like a jungle. Hobbs has been rubbing elbows with celebrities for years, but this did feel like a culmination of all that Hollywood relationship-building including with Roustering. It has become evident that a very Parisian brand can also be very LA. Through connections with Celebrity Fashion Stylist like Hobbs, Roustering has led the French fashion house to massive growth, at least in terms of mainstream brand awareness.

As a celebrity fashion stylist, Hobbs considers Rousteing’s designs as the go-to of young Hollywood. Balmain’s collaboration with H&M confirmed Kendall Jenner, Jourdan Dunn, and Gigi Hadid’s places as top models for Rousteing’s fashion trends. Furthermore, the rest of the Kardashian family are often seen in the designer’s front row, and it wouldn’t be a Balmain show without Kim Kardashian-West seated in clear view. According to Hobbs, the label is a red-carpet favorite, especially come awards season. In 2009, Penelope Cruz won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar wearing vintage dress and Beyonce, walked away with three Grammys wearing Balmain in 2015. Somewhat of a fashion historian, Hobbs recount that Brigitte Bardot paid £1000 to wear a Pierre Balmain original back in 1956, while Sophia Loren put the label in the bright lights of Tinseltown in 1960, when she wore a ballerina dress in The Millionairess. Now from Gwyneth Paltrow to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, there are many celebrities in Hollywood who want to be a part of the Balmain brand. Hobbs knows the fashion trends that appeal to the movers and shakers of Hollywood and Balmain is near the top of the list.