A Timely Tribute

Balmain, the upscale French fashion label, has achieved quite the fashion coup. Its Spring '09 collection tipped its hat to Michael Jackson and, if the current King of Pop frenzy is an accurate gauge, we can only presume it will be spinning that same hat into a screaming audience -- a la the late MJ himself.

In an industry that's hurting, Balmain is feeling pretty damn good right about now.

It all started with Beyoncé and Rihanna. The two powerhouse celebrities donned the Balmain drummer boy jacket in recent weeks and stirred a fashion debate among critics and anyone else with an opinion. Could a look that appeared plucked straight from Jacko's closet be considered a hip throwback? Or a gaudy faux pas?

If you fell on the latter side of the fashion fence, we're willing to bet the events of June 25 boosted you to the other side. The side where "Billie Jean" blasted through speakers while stylists moonwalked their way to sequined gloves and ringmaster red leather jackets.

But most fashion plates didn't need an homage to justify their penchant for the jacket. It sold out on net-a-porter.com in less than 24 hours.

It's no wonder Jackson himself was spotted several times just prior to his death donning pieces from Balmain's women's collection. From the printed skinny pants to the boxy military style jackets, he took a liking to the collection that took a liking to him.

And now we expect you'll probably do the same. If you can't afford the luxury pieces, we've offered a few more affordable alternatives.