Kanye West’s deep love affair with the fashion world continues as he lands his second official campaign for Balmain.
The outspoken rapper is joined by supermodel Joan Smalls in the Fall 2016 ad, which debuted Monday on Balmain’s Instagram page. Famed fashion photographer Steven Klein captured the two superstars in the dynmaic white-and-black image that looks as if Smalls has just (very stylishly) pushed West. Smalls is decked out in a ruffled belted jumpsuit and West is donning the same bejeweled jacket and ripped jeans he wore to the Met Gala this year.
Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing loves using the biggest stars in both pop culture and fashion to create eye-catching ads for the French fashion house. Over the past several years he has tapped Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, as well as fashion icons Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer to star in his campaigns.
Affectionately deemed the Balmain Army, these celebs are the ambassadors for Rousteing’s glitzy and glamorous designs — and many happen to be his close friends beyond business affairs. And as a black designer in a very whitewashed industry, it’s refreshing to see Rousteing so commited to injecting some much needed diversity into the imagery and onto the runway.
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