September 2014|Harper’s BAZAAR| 79AS TOLD TO CHRISTINE WHITNEY. ROBERT FAIRER
The Balmain creative director’s fabulous life
LIST
Olivier
Rousteing
in 24
hours
My
7:00 A.M. I wake up and put on superstrong
music, like Britney Spears’s Work B***h or
Beyoncé’s last album. When I saw the Partition
video, I said, “I need to move like that.” Then
I watch TV on my couch, sometimes cartoons,
sometimes MTV, The Simpsons, South Park,
American Dad or E! Joan Rivers is hilarious on
Fashion Police. Sometimes they laugh about my
dresses. I drink my milk and eat frosted cornfl akes,
trying to keep my eyes open. I check my email to see
what’s going on. I live in Paris, so I say goodnight to
my friends in LA, like Kim [Kardashian], by Skype, WhatsApp, Snapchat or Instagram. The fi rst person I call is my right-hand man,
my assistant, to check my schedule. He’s one of my best friends, so we also talk about the night before and funny pictures. I love Michel
Gaubert’s Instagram. He posted a picture where he called me “Rihanno”. I read mostly on my phone or iPad. I love Women’s Wear Daily,
Just Jared and Perez Hilton. 7:30 A.M. My coach comes twice a week – I love him. I work out in Nike shorts and sneakers, and I wear
a hat because my hair is so curly when I wake up. My coach is impressed when he sees me dressed up in the press or at my fashion shows
because when he arrives at my house I look like s**t. I do exercises like crunches and squats to super-loud music with big beats,
but honestly it’s so hard. 8:30 A.M. I shower for 15 to 20 minutes – also with super-loud music. I love dancing in my shower. Have
you seen The Truman Show? I’m really scared that if there were cameras in my house and shower I would look crazy. Then I put on
my cream – I love Vichy and La Mer – and brush my hair and do Clarisonic on my skin. Afterward my face looks amazing,
and I take my selfi e. I wear a tank top because I’m always warm, a leather jacket and leather pants; I have 10 pairs. I like my
uniform – the only thing I change is my shoes. When I feel sporty I wear Nikes, and when I don’t I wear Balmain boots.
If I feel like a pyjama day, I wear joggings and a hat; if you’re going to wear joggings, it’s best to wear Balmain. Sometimes
I feel like I’m in LA more than Paris, but I don’t care. Clothes can make me feel like I’m in jail – I have to have part of
my skin showing. There was a big article about me, and the fi rst thing my mum texted was that I didn’t button my
shirt in the picture. I wear Balmain a lot, but I have no problem wearing other designers. I’m crazy for Chanel,
and I collect vintage Versace. I have maybe 35 pieces. I also collect T-shirts and ’70s tailored jackets that
are very French – I love a really tight jacket. I have old Harley-Davidson boots and about 30 pairs of
sneakers, but I lose them every time I travel. 9:10 A.M. I call the car and rush to the offi ce.
I used to Rollerblade to work in the summer, but I moved and now it’s too far. In the car
I call my mum and my grandparents. It’s the best time because I’m kind of chilled.
9:30 A.M. When I arrive my assistant has a Starbucks chai tea latte waiting
for me. In my studio it’s almost all girls, so we chat. They tell me
what they did last night, what guys they found.
It’s pretty funny. ➤“CLOTHES CAN MAK E ME
FEEL LIK E I’M IN JAIL –
I HAVE TO HAVE PART OF
MY SK IN SHOWING”
Olivier Rousteing
Olivier Rousteing,
creative director
of Balmain