Balenciaga clear with tortoise shell eyeglasses
View Similar Items
Balenciaga clear with tortoise shell eyeglasses
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:Lucite and Tortoise-shell, gold hardware.
- Condition:Frames are in excellent condition, though lenses have to be replaced because of slight scratches. Frames still have original tag.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU111202247381
Balenciaga
Starting as a modest boutique, Balenciaga evolved to transform the landscape of women’s fashion with shapes and contours during the middle of the 20th century that were nothing less than groundbreaking. Today, the brand is as venturesome as ever and is well known for its shoes, handbags, sneakers, streetwear and other clothing and accessories.
Though he was born in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain’s Basque region, Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895–1972) was destined to reshape modern fashion. As a child, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid. In 1917, he established his first haute couture house — named Eisa, for his mother — in the trendy resort town San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family.
When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937. There, Balenciaga rubbed elbows with fashion greats like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and quickly won over clients like Gloria Guinness, Pauline de Rothschild and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.
As a couturier, Balenciaga drew from his Spanish heritage for ideas, riffing on everything from matador costumes and flamenco dresses to the paintings of Diego Velázquez, whose portraits of Spanish princesses famously inspired Balenciaga’s Infanta gown.
An expert tailor, he experimented with sculptural silhouettes that didn’t follow the body. Some of his notable designs include the 1953 balloon jacket, and from 1957, the cocoon coat, the baby-doll dress and the sack dress, which he popularized with his good friend designer Hubert de Givenchy. All of these could be considered not just the masterpieces of haute couture, but also objets d’art in their own right, leading to Balenciaga’s nickname, “The Master.”
Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart S.A. in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.
The brand returned to high fashion with the arrival of designer Josephus Thimister in 1992. It has since been led by a series of creative directors who have paid homage to Balenciaga’s iconic designs, including Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang and, most recently, Demna Gvasalia. In 2011, a museum celebrating Balenciaga’s legacy opened in his hometown in Spain, commemorating where it all began.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Balenciaga crossbody bags, tote bags, day dresses, shirts and more.
- Yves Saint Laurent Shades of Blue and Black SunglassesBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in New York, NYYves Saint Laurent wonderful sunglasses are in streaks of French blue and highlighted with black accents. The sides have silver name plate with "Yves Saint Laurent". Highly hand-poli...Category
1990s French Sunglasses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Iconic Gun-Metal "Spring-Action" SunglassesBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in New York, NYJean Paul Gaultier Iconic gun-metal sunglasses has "spring-action" detailing on the corners. These glasses has a sort of "Mad Scientist" allu...Category
1980s French Sunglasses
- Georgio Armani with Smoked Lucite SunglassesBy Giorgio ArmaniLocated in New York, NYGeorigio Armani sunglasses has accents of smoked lucite along with clear lucite along the sides. Frames are mainly of black hardware. Sunglasses measures 1 5/8" in height, 5 1/2"...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Sunglasses
- Christian Dior Unique Inner-Framed SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in New York, NYChristian Dior unique inner-framed sunglasses measures 1 1/2" in height, 5 1/8" in length across the front and 5 3/8" in length on the sides.Category
1970s Austrian Sunglasses
- Ferarri Black Lucite Frame Folding Sunglasses with CaseLocated in New York, NYFerarri black lucite frame folding sunglasses measures 2 1/4" in height, 5 3/4" in length across the front, arms are 5 1/2".Category
1980s Italian Sunglasses
- Balenciaga "Limited Edition" Sunglasses with Gold Frame Edges AccentsBy BalenciagaLocated in New York, NYBalenciaga's "Limited Edition" wicked sunglasses has gold frame edges accents. The arm are highlighted with their signature "B", and finished with black lucite on both arms. The h...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sunglasses
- CHANEL clear holographic multi color tinted CC silver rimless SunglassesBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in Genève, CH- Pink to Turquoise translucent colors - Silver Metal - Late 1990s - Made in Italy - With boxcase - Little sign of use, good vintage conditionCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sunglasses
- Vintage Anglo American Eyewear - BICYCLEBy Anglo American OpticalLocated in HOUTEN, NLThe model BICYCLE is made by Anglo American Eyewear. The company was voted best designers of Sunglasses and Spectacle frames in 1993. All glasses are h...Category
1980s English Sunglasses
- Paloma Picasso - 3752 VINTAGEBy Paloma PicassoLocated in HOUTEN, NLThis model was designed by Paloma Picasso, daughter of the world renowned painter. She started as a costume designer and had great success as a jewelry designer for Tiffany...Category
1990s German Sunglasses
- Balmain, Oversized red sunglassesBy BalmainLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLBalmain, Oversized Red Sunglasses. This item is in very good condition and comes with box and dust cover. • CONDITION: very good condition • MEASUREME...Category
2010s Sunglasses
- PRADA silver-tone SPR59L SunglassesBy PradaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Prada SPR 59L sunglasses made of a silver-tone metal frame with light grey gradient lenses and black acetate temples. Have been worn and are in excellent condition. Co...Category
1980s Sunglasses
- CHANEL titanium metal 4189 AVIATOR Sunglasses Lilac LensesBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel 4189 pilot sunglasses with chrome lenses and a light tone titanium frame. Features calf skin details in lavender on the handle-ends. Has been worn and is in exc...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Sunglasses