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.
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Balenciaga fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
Designers Similar to Balenciaga
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The insoles of Balenciaga shoes vary, depending on what type and which style of shoe it is. Many of its sneakers have the brand name printed on the insole but that’s not standard across all lines of Balenciaga shoes. It’s best to look up your specific shoe of interest to see what the insole should look like. You’ll find a large collection of Balenciaga shoes and other products from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga has eight exclusive boutiques across the United States. One shop is in NYC, one in Los Angeles and one in Costa Mesa, California. There are two shops in Las Vegas, but one of them only carries accessories. There is a shop in Bal Harbour Florida, one in Honolulu, Hawaii, and there is a Balenciaga shop in Dallas, Texas. Shop a collection of Balenciaga from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 19, 2024How long Balenciaga’s shipping takes will depend on delivery location and the type of shipping selected for an order. Per Balenciaga’s official website, which offers a great deal of information related to shipping, orders placed by 4PM ET between Monday and Friday will be delivered in 1–7 business days (standard shipping). Delivery times are subject to change based on reasons described at Balenciaga’s official website. Shop vintage Balenciaga from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- How long are Balenciaga laces?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Many of the laces for Balenciaga shoes are categorized as “large” and they are 114cm or 45”. It’s best to know what style of shoe you’re looking for and then use that as the reference to find the right length of laces for your Balenciaga shoes. You’ll find a large collection of Balenciaga shoes and other products from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Alexander Wang does not own Balenciaga. Alexander Wang was hired to be the creative director of the brand in 2012 but he left that position after just three years. He does own his own eponymously named brand of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga haute couture from top sellers around the world.
- How do I read a Balenciaga tag?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga metal tags for items after 2003 use an alphanumeric code. The first line of numbers will be followed by a letter that will tell you the season and year of the bag. The brand started at Z with its Spring/Summer collection in 2005, the next season was its Fall/Winter collection, and that letter was Y and so on. For some reason, it skipped the letter X, but the rest fall predictably in place. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- Is Balenciaga French?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Balenciaga is not French. The luxury designer brand Balenciaga was founded in 1919 by Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in San Sebastián, Spain. That being said, the brand moved to Paris in 1937 and is now owned by the luxury group Kering. Shop a collection of Balenciaga from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Many people have been designers for Balenciaga since the fashion house's founding in 1919. The brand's first designer was Cristóbal Balenciaga, who led Balenciaga until 1968. Other designers who have contributed to the company's success include Michel Goma, Josephus Thimister, Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang and Demna Gvasalia. Shop a variety of Balenciaga apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.
- What font is Balenciaga?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Balenciaga font resembles some other fonts including Utah Condensed Bold font and Yantramanav Medium Font. The original Balenciaga logotype was adjusted in 2017 to be slightly taller and thinner than the previous font but still look very similar. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga haute couture from top sellers around the world.
- What is Balenciaga?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga is a high-fashion brand that was founded in Spain by Cristóbal Balenciaga. He is known for creating avant garde pieces that often forecasted future trends. Find a collection of expertly vetted Balenciaga designs from some of the world’s top reputable boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga doesn’t have a true signature color. The designer, Cristobal Balenciaga had a strong preference for black, and the hue was often repeated in his designs over and over. The logo today is simple and straightforward black lettering. Find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 29, 2024The real name of Balenciaga was Cristóbal Balenciaga. He was born in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain’s Basque region in 1895. In 1917, he established his first haute couture house — named Eisa for his mother — in the trendy resort town of 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. As an expert tailor, he experimented with sculptural silhouettes that didn’t follow the body. 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.” On 1stDibs, find a selection of Balenciaga apparel and accessories.
- Who is Balenciaga the designer?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 19, 2024Cristóbal Balenciaga was a revolutionary Spanish designer who founded the revered haute couture house Balenciaga. He opened several boutiques in Spain before moving to Paris in 1937 (he lived and worked in the French capital for three decades). He retired in 1968. In 1986, Jacques Bogart SA acquired the rights to Balenciaga, and Kering purchased the brand in 2001.
Balenciaga's creative director is Demna Gvasalia. He was appointed to the role in 2015 and succeeded Alexander Wang. Shop a collection of Balenciaga from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs. - 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022It’s difficult to determine the most popular Balenciaga bag because trends are constantly changing, but the Balenciaga City bag is often at the top of the list. It’s considered an icon for the brand and both old and new versions are highly sought-after. The original large bag has even inspired a smaller version that is also a popular choice. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Usually. Balenciaga often restocks sold-out items, but it’s hard to know when they’ll be available again. In the meantime, you can often find them through second-hand online boutiques or on trusted third-party sites like 1stDibs. Shop a collection of Balenciaga pieces from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Which company owns Balenciaga?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga is owned by Kering, an international luxury group that acquired the fashion brand in 2001. Kering also owns Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga pieces from top sellers around the world.
- Who is Cristobal Balenciaga?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 19, 2024Cristóbal Balenciaga was a Spanish fashion designer and the founder of one of Spain's most widely celebrated haute couture houses, Balenciaga. He was known for uncompromising standards, and Christian Dior referred to him as "the master of us all." 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. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Balenciaga pieces from top sellers worldwide.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Cristóbal Balenciaga closed his fashion house and retired in 1968, saying that designing true couture had become impossible. He died four years later at the age of 77. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga couture from top sellers around the world.
- What does Balenciaga sell?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga sells haute couture styles and designer ready-to-wear clothing for men and women, handbags, shoes and sneakers, leather goods and accessories. They have a wide variety of options and are considered a brand with uncompromising standards. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga haute couture from top sellers around the world.
- Can I buy a Balenciaga strap?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Balenciaga used to sell shoulder straps separately and you could put them on any of their bags. They no longer offer this item on their website, but you may be able to find used versions to purchase through second-hand retail shops or online. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.