Balmain has opened its first London store, the eagerly awaited Mayfair space opening its doors to the public this week.

As Balmain’s first store outside of Paris the opening signals a bold statement of intent from Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, who’s vision looks towards the house expanding its reach on a global scale.

The new flagship was conceived by Joseph Dirand as a British translation of his own transformation of the house’s historic Paris flagship. “The concept behind the design for Balmain’s original address was to create a uniquely elegant space – a Parisian townhouse – where the house founder, Pierre Balmain, would have been very much at home,” Dirand explained. “This London flagship translates that French refinement into an English vocabulary. I like to think of this new address as the founder’s second home, Pierre Balmain’s London pied-à-terre.”

The new 220-square-metre London boutique is kitted out with an equally smart interior, inspired by the style of house founder Pierre Balmain’s favourite mid-century French furniture designers, André Arbus and Jean Royère.

Marble fireplaces, high ceilings, and ornate fixtures create a striking translation of Parisian and British elegance and contemporary, sleek design, a slick fit with the house’s aesthetic – and both the men’s and women’s collections the new space hosts.

Exporting the house’s elegant imprint to British soil, the store fits smartly amongst the neighbouring buildings, inspired by Mayfair’s dominant Queen Anne Revival style and neatly in keeping with the surrounding architecture.

Balmain, 69 South Audrey Street Mayfair, London W1K 2QZ