Is Balmain's Designer in a Mental Hospital?

After John Galliano's ouster from Dior comes more high drama in the world of high fashion: Christophe Decarnin was suspiciously absent from his own Fall/Winter 2011 show yesterday, fueling rumors that he's in a mental hospital. Decarnin failed to bow after the collection he designed was presented at Paris Fashion Week, the Daily Beast reports. The president of the company claimed at first Decarnin was simply tired after working until 5am on the collection, but a spokesperson later denied that Decarnin had been up that late prepping for the show, and said he was just "exhausted" after a "demanding and complicated" season and that "by doctor’s orders needs rest, and that is the only reason he was not present at the show."

The audience immediately began speculating Decarnin had suffered a drug-fueled breakdown. Hint Magazine published a report claiming he had been in a mental hospital since January, and cited an anonymous source who said Balmain employees were told in mid-January that he would not return to the company. According to Hint, the Balmain stylist completed the collection; she was also the one who took questions from reporters after yesterday's show. But the official party line from Balmain is that the line was completed under Decarnin's direction, and that he is simply "not feeling well"—although the spokesperson vaguely confirmed to the Beast that his ailment is "not anything physical." (More fashion designer stories.)