Balenciaga Contrast Piping Robe Jacket
View Similar Items
Balenciaga Contrast Piping Robe Jacket
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU73636627602
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.
- S/S 1989 Thierry Mugler Runway Sculptural Black Pointed Cutout JacketBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Concord, NCAn extravagant jacket by Thierry Mugler from the Spring Summer 1989 "Les Atlantes" collection. This documented black jacket features a unique cutout pointed edge design. The jacket f...Category
1980s French Jackets
- S/S 1992 Thierry Mugler Black Runway Jacket Dramatic White CollarBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Concord, NCIncredible rare Thierry Mugler black jacket with a dramatic pointed white collar and matching white cuffs from the Spring Summer 1992 collection and as seen on the runway. Made in Fr...Category
1990s French Jackets
- TOM FORD green cotton linen BELTED FITTED MILITARY Jacket 42 MBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford fitted military jacket in olive green cotton (55%) and linen (45%) with a notch collar, apaulettes, two keyhole chest pockets, two front flap pockets and decorative belted c...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- TOM FORD black silk OVERSIZED DOUBLE ZIP PONCHO Jacket 36 XXSBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford oversized poncho blouson jacket in black silk (100%) with double zipper detail and drawstring around hips. Brand new. Tag Size 36 Size XXS Shoulder Width 36cm (14in) Bust ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- TOM FORD black PERFORATED LEATHER TRENCH Coat Jacket 36 XXSBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford belted coat in black perforated nappa leather, nubuk and lambskin featuring gold-tone hardware. Unlined. Has been worn and is in excellent condition. Tag Size 34 Size XXS ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- MARNI black SHEARLING Short Sleeve Jacket 38 XSBy MarniLocated in Zürich, CHauthentic Marni short sleeve shearling jacket in black lamb leather (100%). Closes with two concealed hooks on the front and has slit pockets. Has been worn and is in excellent condi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets