Balenciaga Opera Coat
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 39.38 in (100 cm)Marked Size: 44 (EU)Bust: 29.53 in (75 cm)
- Style:Contemporary (In the Style Of)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Glasgow, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3523220557872
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, 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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Belstaff Trialmaster Leather JacketBy BelstaffLocated in Glasgow, GBGents blue leather belted jacket from Belstaff. Long line Trialmaster style with leather belt around the waistline. With black toned metal hardware, eyelets poppers and buckle. All p...Category
2010s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- Vintage Voyage Invest in the Original Velvet JacketBy VOYAGE London by Louise and Tiziano MazelliLocated in Glasgow, GBVintage olive green velvet jacket from Voyage London by Louise and Tiziano Mazelli. Beautiful velvet jacket with brown, white and gold silk trim around the hemline, cuffs, collar a...Category
1990s British Coats and Outerwear
- Wool & Patent Armani Collezioni JacketBy Armani CollezioniLocated in Glasgow, GBDeep purple wool jacket with shiny black patent trim from Armani Collezioni. Beautiful deep purple wool with patent trim along the collar, hemline, cuffs and pockets. Double breasted...Category
2010s Italian Jackets
- Emporio Armani Linen Two PieceBy EMPORIO ARMANI EA7Located in Glasgow, GBBeautiful linen two piece from Emporio Armani. Maxi skirt with matching blazer jacket In a dark grey/green tone linen mix. The jacket has a ribbon and mesh frill trim around the co...Category
2010s Italian Skirt Suits
- Yves Saint Laurent Black and White Wool JacketBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Glasgow, GBVintage wool jacket from Yves Saint Laurent Variation. Grey, black and white boucle style wool upper with black faux fur cuffs and trio of smokey tortoise shell buttons. Flap over po...Category
2010s European Jackets
- GV Versace Versatile Vintage Wool Skirt SuitBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Glasgow, GBChartreuse two piece wool skirt suit from Gianni Versace Versatile. Boxy blazer and straight cut knee length skirt. Statement Medusa adorned gold but...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- Vintage CHANEL long blue and black wool coat with CC logo buttonsBy ChanelLocated in Malibu, CAVintage CHANEL Boutique long blue and black wool coat with CC logo buttons.🖤 Excellent condition! size: 44/ 4-8 depending on desired fit fabric: wool bust: 19 length: 38 sleeve 2...Category
20th Century Trench Coats
- 1990s vintage Moschino cashmere coatBy Moschino Cheap and Chic, MoschinoLocated in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR1990s vintage cashmere coat by Moschino. 92% cashmere. The coat has a velvet collar and pockets. Matching skirt available on the store. Sizes ...Category
1990s Italian Coats
- Mariano Fortuny Black Stencilled Velvet Persian Style CoatBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis three-quarter length black velvet persian coat was printed with metallic paints with Venetian glass buttons and silk loop closures at the center fr...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Coats
- Mariano Fortuny Green Stencilled Velvet Long CoatBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYFortuny translated the caftan as a loose fitting outer garment,usually made out of silk velvet crepe or gauze the fitted back and open front allowed for elaborate stenciled decoratio...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Coats
- Mariano Fortuny Gauze Sleevless Coat, Provenance Tina ChowBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYTransparent Fortuny gauze pieces are based on the ancient tunic which was a shirt like garment that became traditional attire in roman times, the copts or christian egyptians...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Coats
- 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