Recent Fashion News: Rousteing leaves Balmain, Anok wins Model of the Year, and Timothee owns the universe according to Vogue…

Olivier Rousteing exits Balmain

Recent Fashion News has been so overwhelmingly juicy I've had to pause our scheduled topics to interject because Olivier Rousteing just exited Balmain. WHAT! 

I thought I was being pranked when I read the headline, when I think Balmain I think Rousteing. The French fashion designer has been the creative director for the past fourteen years, in what can definitely be called one of the longest and most iconic designer tenures in the 21st century. 

When he was hired first for Balmain in 2009 he was just 23, and only two years later he was promoted to Creative Director at just 25! This living legend, he became the first Black creative director of a french maison, as well as the youngest designer to lead a Paris fashion house since Yves Saint Laurent himself - Breaking these kinds of records at 25 is pure lunacy.   

Balmain was transformed completely under Rousteing's direction, going from a brand deep rooted in heritage to a brand reinvented by Rousteing to fuel new fashion generations for decades.

His signature sculptural shoulders, golden hardware gilded embroidery and above all daring designs. He oozed uniqueness from every fibre of his being and will again I’m sure for another maison. Balmain will be reborn under a new creative direction which I am also excited for, however for now I am in mourning. 

Via the Balmain Instagram Rousteing declared his departure, saying, “I am deeply proud of all that I’ve accomplished, and profoundly grateful to my exceptional team at Balmain, my chosen family, in a place that has been my home for the past 14 years,” 

“As I look ahead to the future and the next chapter of my creative journey, I will always hold this treasured time close to my heart.” 

Big things are coming for Rousteing and I’m ecstatic to see what he's got in store… 

Anok Yai as Model of the Year

Anok Yai Model OTY 25

After outrage last year when Alex Consani won Model of the Year instead of friend and colleague Anok Yai. She has finally got her moment to shine! 

Capturing once more the attention of the fashion world as she received the British Fashion Councils Model of The Year Title for 2025. The announcement comes ahead of The Fashion Awards 2025, presented by Pandora, set to take place on 1 December at the Royal Albert Hall in London. 

Back in 2017 Yai blew up overnight while attending a festival linked to her university, where street photographer Steven Hall snapped a photo and posted it to instagram. Within 24 hours she had a startling amount of modelling agencies begging for her attention, quite the achievement! 

She then left her medicinal dreams behind and stepped into the limelight of fashion, quickly skyrocketing to fame through her many successful campaigns with the industry's best.

She has long said as a dark-skinned black woman she feels she holds a responsibility to be a representative for younger black girls and she even writes clauses into her contracts about her natural hair! Pure icon behaviour. 

My congratulations go to Anok Yai, and I am thrilled for her to accept her much deserved award next month at the Fashion Awards. 

Timothee Chalamet worst Vogue Cover in History? 

Timothee Chalamet is this month's Vogue cover star (American), and when this was revealed merely two days ago the fashion world got online rapidly to discuss the state of artistry that was published. 

First of all let's rationalise, this is Vogue, not The Sun. Vogue cannot afford to have abysmal covers, and the rave reviews coming out have been pure entertainment! First of all he is bald. 

Secondly, the image selected, of thousands may I add, shot by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz (at this moment I’m questioning why?) Sees Chalamet in the stars, seemingly stood on top of the universe - quite the power play. 

He is dressed in a flowing cream trench and florally embroidered jeans, which has me fuming because that is 100% my thing, and he is embarrassing me. He stares remarkably creepily through the camera, a smoulder attempt I fear. 

Kylie, come collect your ‘world’ please. 

A favourite comment of mine from the cover reveal was this, ‘Canva and ChatGPT had their moment here,' because they 100% did, AI was non negotiable involved unless they chartered a rocket for the day and left the planet - I wouldn’t be surprised with Kylie's billionaire budget. 

My personal advice would be to ditch the buzz cut immediately because that is a SHOCKER! Also stop letting photos be taken without approval first because no way did he see that and say yes, publish that. 

Praying for you Timmy xox 

With Love, 

Mimi x