Is The Balmain Blazer Worth It? The Ultimate Review of a Wardrobe Classic

So it’s happened. You’ve met and fallen in love with a Balmain blazer. Well, you’re not alone my friend. This work of art has had fashionistas, celebrities, and style connoisseurs swooning for quite some time. But before you think about dropping almost $2k on the designer classic, lets make sure it’s the right purchase for you.

Featured Image @lydiaemillen

About Balmain

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Balmain is a luxury fashion house that was founded in France by Pierre Balmain in 1945.

After Balmain’s death in 1982, the fashion house was would go through several leadership shakes up (including the famed Oscar De La Renta) before finally being commandeered by the now head designer Olivier Rousteing in 2011.

In 2016 the brand was acquired by an investment fund backed by the Monarch of Qatar and currently operates 16 Balmain stores, including locations in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and Milan.

About The Balmain Blazer

Seeking a shot of confidence? Slip-on one of our iconic double-breasted blazers. The Balmain house promises “you’ll see immediately what our atelier is capable of: strong shoulders, nipped-in waist—and in an instant, pull together any ensemble.”

Celebrities like Kanye West, Jennifer Lopez, and Gigi Hadid are known to regularly sport this classic piece.

So what makes the Balmain Blazer so special?

If you’ve had the opportunity to try on this classic, you understand. The jacket is just a beautiful work of art. The Balmain Blazer is bold, and yet still manages to perfectly accentuate a woman’s body beautifully.

Details

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Balmain blazers are the definition of 21st century [feminine] power dressing. The military-inspired design is evoked through the sharp tailoring of the dramatic shoulders and tapered waists and gold-toned buttons.

Balmain has quite a few styles of jackets and blazers. But when we talk about “The Balmain Blazer”, there’s only one. The classic.  And yet still “the classic” comes in an array of interpretations. A quick scroll on Farfetch or NetaPorter give you an idea of the various styles and options.

Both the classic double-breasted and single button design are shorter styles that stop just above the butt on the average woman. There are also longer options that stop below the butt. The design of the collar and other details (pockets, buttons, etc) are a bit different from the classic styles, however.

Classic styles include (Pictured above):

Double Breasted  | Single Breasted/Single Button | Double Breasted Long

The Fabric/Material Options

The Balmain Blazer comes in an array of different fabrics including denim, sequin, leather, and varies, even more, depending on the collection and season.

Classic fabrics include: Wool | Tweed | Cotton

The Color Options

In addition to a rainbow of fabrics, the Balmain Blazer comes in a rainbow of different colors including pink, green, neon yellow and every other imaginable hue that vary depending on the collection and season. Colors options also depend on style and material of the blazer.

Classic colors include: Black | Navy | White | Red | Houndstooth

How does the Balmain Blazer fit? 

Balmain Blazers come in french sizing. If you’re not quite familiar, the sizing chart on the Balmain website is quite helpful.

When splurging on an almost $2k jacket, you definitely want to make sure the sizing is perfect and you’re 100% happy. I can tell you the blazers DEFINITELY run small compared to US and UK sizing (contrary to the advice on the official Balmain website).

I typically wear a size 2/4US, or small by most standards. In the store, I initially tried a size 36, and immediately took it off because it was clearly too small and too tight. I contemplated between the size 38 (which fit perfectly) and size 40 (which fit just a bit looser) before finally settling on the 38.

While the 38 fit my body perfectly there were some aspects I was a bit annoyed with. Considering I am quite a tall girl (5 ft 10 in / 178 cm ), I wish the arms where just a tad bit longer and the the body as well. I reconciled because I figure the arms could be adjusted to perfection by a professional tailor. The length of body I will just have to live with. Surley for a woman of average height, with average length limbs, it would probably be just fine.  

With that said, again, definitely order at least one size up. Maybe even two.

The Review

Construction and craftsmanship

On the model I purchased, The Double Breasted Balmain Blazer in black wool, according to the care tag sewn inside, the jacket is made in Slovakia of 100% virgin wool. The lining is 52% viscose and 48% cotton.

Cost + Resale Value

While a brand new balmain double breasted blazer goes for $ 2,195.00 USD, The Real Real online luxury consignment shop sells the same exact  blazer in excellent condition for $1,295.00 USD. It’s pretty safe to say that if you were to purchase the blazer brand new and sell your Balmain blazer in excellent condition with receipt and/or proof of authenticity you could recoup around 50% of the original retail price.

Pros & Cons

Lets start of with the cons shall we. Now obviously I’m quite biased (I love this blazer), but there’s not much bad I have to say about this jacket. Besides the hefty price tag, and that I wish the arms were a tad bit longer for my long limbs, I’m very happy with my purchase.  

As for the Pros, The Balmain Blazer is versatile and can be worn with many different combinations, throughout different seasons. It can be dressed up, or dressed down, and immediately elevates any outfit you pair it with. It’s unique, and for those who care, it’s a very recognizable luxury statement piece. Although it’s quite pricey I rationalize this purchase by considering the price per wear. I will literally wear this many many times, for many many years, and feel super super fabulous each time.  

So, is the Balmain Blazer worth it?

For me yes. If you can afford it new or second hand, go for it! I will purchase another in the future but in the long style (below the butt). Is it worth it for you? I hope this review helps you make the best buying decision for you. Happy shopping, Bombshell!