Balenciaga Dress
View Similar Items
Balenciaga Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 36 (EU)
- Style:Bodycon (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Toulon, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU63333352033
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.
- A Biba black embroidered mini Dress, Circa 1970-1980By BibaLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1970-1980 England. Biba black mini dress and gold sequined collar. Opened on the back. Large and wide sleeves. Dress composed of a large t-shirt and a mini skirt, belt tight ...Category
1970s English Mini Dress
- A French Flowered Printed Chiffon Dress With Removable Skirt, circa 1950-1960Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1950-1960 France Unlabelled dress very good manufacturing, high-quality garment, chiffon flowers on green background. Short sleeves. Scarf neck can be tied. Fine pleated skir...Category
1950s French Casual Dresses
- A French Hervé Léger Couture stretch Little black Dress Circa 1995By Herve LégerLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1995 France Hervé Léger black mini dress. Bodycon dress with short sleeves made from an assembly of stretch fabric bands commonly used in the field of lingerie. Square collar...Category
1990s French Mini Dress
- A Jeanne Lanvin Couture cocktail Dress, Circa 1965By Jeanne LanvinLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1965 France Elegant cocktail dress in black gazar and thin stripes gold, vermilion, gray and garnet-colored from the famous Maison Lanvin directed by Jules François Grahay sin...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- A Worth Paquin Couture Embroidered Chiffon Dress - England Circa 1960By WorthLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1960 France / England Worth cocktail dress in navy blue silk-crepe with horizontal stripes embroidered with iridescent navy glitter and translucent beads, from the last perio...Category
1960s British Cocktail Dresses
- A Loris Azzaro Couture Embroidered Sequins Evening Dress Circa 1970/1980By Loris Azzaro, Loris Azzaro CoutureLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1970/1980 France Paris Loris Azzaro Haute Couture evening dress embroidered with black sequins dating from the 70's. Entirely embroidered w...Category
1970s French Aesthetic Day Dresses
- ALAÏA 1990 black knitted mini dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHAlaïa knitted mini dress with sheer raised edge skirt -Back closing with a hidden set zipper -Long sleeves -Nude knitted lining -Made in Italy -100% V...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- ALBERTO BINI 1990 leather mini dress with gold tone Lion NEW with tagBy AlbertoLocated in Genève, CHThis vintage dress from Alberto Bini is coming directly from the 90s, and it's also a beautiful ode to Versace universe. -Lion detail in metal gold tone ...Category
1980s French Mini Dress
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Vintage Off-Shoulder Black Dress 1990sBy Chanel BoutiqueLocated in Berlin, BEThe perfect little black vintage dress by Chanel. This classic beauty is a 1990s piece designed by Karl Lagerfeld. This elegant Chanel dress is an incredible classic that will truly...Category
1990s French Mini Dresses
- Gianni Versace 1997 Couture fall black leather gownBy Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni VersaceLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHGianni Versace was an influential Italian fashion designer who founded the Versace brand. In the fall of 1997, he presented his couture collection in Paris, which was widely acclaimed for its opulent fabrics, bold prints, and intricate detailing. The collection featured several notable pieces, such as a black evening gown with a plunging neckline and a gold-encrusted jacket. However, just a few days later, on July 15th, 1997, Gianni was tragically murdered outside his Miami Beach home. Despite his untimely death, his contributions to the world of fashion continue to be celebrated, and his legacy remains an inspiration too many. This collection is iconic as it’s the final collection before his passing. The collection very much showed a new direction for the house. Which was heading away from the bombshell curves and souped-up sex appeal that the house previously focussed on. But took more Inspirations to the new wave John Galliano and Mcqueen were leading. MET Gala: Salma Hayek y sus mejores momentos en la alfombra roja Vogue For the 1997 Met Gala Salma Hayek wore a very similar Gianni Versace look...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Pamella Roland Breaded Emerald Evening GownBy Pamella RolandLocated in Scottsdale, AZA timeless evening gown with beautiful beaded sleeves by Pamella Roland. This dress is a classic piece that could be worn for a day or night time event. A gown like this in your closet is sure to always be a go to every time! It is composed of silk satin with nice, billowy sleeves that end with an elegant beaded detailing, a feature that really makes this gown glow. Pair this gown with Yves Saint Laurent strappy heels, Kennth Lane earrings and a Prada handbag for a perfect evening look, or dress it down with Chanel flats for a daytime look. Either way you’ll be shining! Pamella Roland debuted its Fall 2002 couture...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Dresses
- 1980s Lily Rubin Carwash DressLocated in Scottsdale, AZThese photos do no justice to the movement of this incredible 1980s Lily Rubin Dress! Covered in long strips of black carwash style fabric. Flattering empir...Category
1980s American Maxi Dress