Balmain Autumn/Winter 2011

"Christophe Decarnin showed a new, more "subdued" Balmain collection, according to Cathy Horyn, today for Fall 2011 — which could be in part because Emmanuelle Alt is no longer the show's stylist and Melanie Ward took her place this season. But more curious: Decarnin skipped his final bow and was a no-show backstage. "He's tired after working on the collection. He's not here. He's resting," said a Balmain spokesman."

"Christophe Decarnin was a no-show at Balmain today, explained a label spokesman, because: "He's tired after working on the collection. He's not here. He's resting." However, Hint reports that Decarnin has been in a "mental hospital" since January, according to a source, because of a nervous breakdown. He apparently disappeared one day in mid-January — a "total nightmare" — and it was then announced that he would not be coming back."

"Decarnin reportedly wasn't involved in the Fall 2011 collection at all, and Melanie Ward, who was previously confirmed to be collaborating with Decarnin on the collection, actually designed it all with Balmain's in-house team. Ward definitely has design experience — among other stints, she spent 13 years as creative director of Helmut Lang, when the designer was still at his namesake label."

"An update on Christophe Decarnin's absence from today's Balmain show — although it was rumored earlier today that the designer was in a "mental hospital" and had no say in the Fall 2011 collection, WWD reports: "The designer was absent under doctor’s orders, after having recently been released from the hospital, where he was said to have been treated for depression. A Balmain spokesman said Decarnin was involved in the design."