Kanye West and Joan Smalls dance for Balmain
Kanye West has landed a new gig -- as a model for the French fashion house Balmain.
The rapper and designer has been unveiled as the star of the label's new fall campaign, alongside supermodel Joan Smalls.
The house took to Instagram to announce the news, posting a black and white image of West and Smalls in a dramatic balletic pose. Smalls sports a pair of ruffled trousers and a cropped top, while West is captured in the ripped jeans and embellished jacket combination he debuted on the red carpet of the MET Ball back in May. The shot is accompanied by the caption 'The ♯BalmainArmy is back'.
West's promotion to chief of the Balmain Army should come as no surprise, given the close relationship he and his family have with the house's Creative Director, Olivier Rousteing. The Yeezy designer made headlines when he and his wife Kim Kardashian West made their couple's campaign debut for Balmain's Spring/Summer 2015 ads. West's sisters-in-law Kendall and Kylie Jenner starred in the Balmain Autumn/Winter 2015 campaign, with Kendall also featuring in the Balmain x H&M campaign video and regularly walking the runway for the designer. Rousteing has frequently dressed the Kardashians for high-profile events and even made a guest appearance in Kim's 'Hollywood' mobile app.
This campaign was shot by US photographer Steven Klein, known for his work with Balmain, Versace and Balenciaga. Digital artist Pascal Dangin directed.
