Balenciaga blue dress
View Similar Items
Balenciaga blue dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38 (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU53232451073
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.
- Vintage 1950's Lee Claire Aqua-Blue Silk Ruched Asymmetric Draped Cocktail DressLocated in Beverly Hills, CAWith its vivid aqua-blue color and flawless sculpted silhouette, this Lee Claire designer cocktail dress has the sophisticated elegance the 1950's were know...Category
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
- A Pop Art Printed Chiffon Ceremony Dress - France Circa 1975Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1970-1975 France Magistral long dress in printed silk crepe, without claw and dating from the 1970s. Chasuble cut dress with psychedelic print typical of Pop Art of this peri...Category
1970s French Maxi Dresses
- Moroccan Kaftan in Turquoise Blue and SilverLocated in North Hollywood, CAElegant Moroccan caftan in turquoise blue and silver metallic embroidered trim and front. This long maxi dress kaftan is embroidered and embellished entirely by hand. It’s crafted in...Category
20th Century Moroccan Kaftans
$520 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage Vera Silk Charmeuse Modern Scarf Print Dress by Vera Neumann Size 4By Vera, Vera NeumannLocated in Palm Springs, CAA very hard to find dress by the legendary print designer Vera Neumann, that was the most popular silk scarf queen in the world in the 60s and 70s. This chic sheath dress was done in...Category
1970s Sheath Dresses
- 1950s blue and grey silk polkadot halter cocktail dressBy Daniel WerleLocated in Beverly Hills, CATimeless and chic vintage 1950s Werle blue and gray polkadot summer cocktail halter a line dress with pockets. Perfect summer cocktail dress. A...Category
1950s American Casual Dresses
- Giorgio di Sant Angelo 1980s Stocking Knit Bodycon DressBy Giorgio di Sant' AngeloLocated in Carmel, CAGiorgio di Sant Angelo 1980s mesh knit stretch lycra, stocking knit body con featherweight tank dress. Dress is a small size and fits our mannequin which measures a 34" bust, 25...Category
1980s American Day Dresses
$950 Sale Price20% Off