It’s safe to say Cara Delevingne knows a thing or two about fashion. The multitasking actress and model has spent the past decade working with the biggest names in the industry and wearing their creations on the red carpet. Over time, she’s learned plenty of lessons on style, confidence, and the kind of pieces people want to own, all of which she channeled into her debut design collaboration with Puma. The Balmain x Puma capsule combines the sport-chic of the sneaker giant with the luxe aesthetic of Olivier Rousteing’s ready-to-wear for the storied French fashion house. In the age of the luxury sneaker collaboration, the collection couldn’t feel more timely, but Delevingne wanted the creations she designed with close friend Rousteing to stand for more than trends. “For me, Puma represents not just sport, but athleisure and that whole concept of doing many things,” shared Delevingne from her suite at the Sunset Tower Hotel. “Especially for me as a woman on the go, working hard, doing a lot of different jobs. Pairing Puma and Balmain just seemed perfect for that.”
To prep for the collection’s big reveal, Delevingne brought in her glam squad—including stylists Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi, makeup artist Molly Stern, and hairstylist Danielle Priano. While getting ready for her big launch, she revealed a few of the collection’s secrets and previewed favorite pieces like reversible jackets, boxing shorts, and an array of logo tees. The clothes all mesh with Delevingne’s style, but the design process was about more than just re-creating her look. Given both Puma and Balmain’s history of attention-grabbing shoes, the bar for footwear was high. “[Puma] always had these brilliant staples, so I wanted this collection to have the same thing,” said Delevingne, while showing off her gold-studded boots. “I wanted them to have the feel of being more than a trainer [or] just a fashionable shoe.”
At the collection’s star-studded party at Milk Studios in Los Angeles, the hard work paid off. With guests like Alessandra Ambrosio and Amber Heard all wearing Delevingne-designed pieces, the collection was shown at its very finest—just in time for the star to step into the ring with Rousteing for a friendly boxing match. Here, Delevingne takes Vogue along for her epic getting-ready routine, from breathing exercises in the makeup chair to red carpet kisses with her designer BFF.
Source: Vogue.com
