What made Balenciaga famous?

The creativity and skill of founder Cristóbal Balenciaga are what made Balenciaga famous. 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. As 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." Find a collection of Balenciaga apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.