Balenciaga
View Similar Items
Balenciaga
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38 (EU)
- Style:Boho Couture (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Gresham, OR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU50250604
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.
- 1960 Mr. Blackwell Fluorescent Yellow Embroidered Floral Net Trapeze DressBy Mr. BlackwellLocated in Gresham, OR1960s Mr. Blackwell fluorescent yellow floral embroidered net cocktail dress. Under-layer is a sheath styled crepe dress and the over-layer of embro...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1980 Galanos Silk Chiffon Print Bold Shoulder Cocktail Dress W/ Crystal BeadingBy James Galanos, GalanosLocated in Gresham, ORJames Galanos 1980s silk devore cocktail dress embellished with a universe of crystals, beads and bling! A bold 80s high-syle shoulder silhouette with a draped bodice and fitted wai...Category
1980s American Shift Cocktail Dresses
- 1970 Forest Green Silk Chiffon Accordion Pleated Halter Dress W/ Full Sweep HemBy Martha Palm BeachLocated in Gresham, ORA lovely forest green 1970s pleated silk chiffon halter dress from Martha, the world-famous high end retailer. Voluminous accordion pleated chiffon overlay forms a caplet over this d...Category
1970s American Maxi Dresses
- 1970 Adolfo Sailor Stripe Navy & Cream Knit Maxi Dress W/ Button FrontBy AdolfoLocated in Gresham, OR1970s Adolfo body-conscious rayon knit sailor striped navy and cream maxi dress with front button placket closure. Gives a modern Gaultier vibe. Size ...Category
1970s American Maxi Dresses
- 1980 Arnold Scaasi Black Silk Satin Cocktail Dress W/ Rhinestone DecorationBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in Gresham, OR1980s Arnold Scaasi black silk satin cocktail dress with delicate rhinestone line-traced embellishment: An off-the-shoulder design with a slight dropped waist and gathered bell-shap...Category
1980s American Mini Dress
- 1980 Arnold Scaasi Silk Changeant Cocktail Dress w/ Black Velvet & Ruffle StripeBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in Gresham, OR1980s Arnold Scaasi off-the-shoulder cocktail dress with black velvet and ruffled horizontal stripes. Silk changeant taffeta in olive/slate palette. Stand-up bandeau décolletage and ...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1930's Cartwright Ivory Striped Silk Rayon Cut-Out Maxi Dress & JacketLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe vibrant rainbow-stripe used on this ivory silk rayon 1930's "Cartwright" designer dress ensemble has a whimsical allure that I find irresistible. The sleeveless bodice has a flir...Category
1930s American Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Gianni Versace F/W 1993 Runway Couture Sheer Knit Mesh Lace Evening Dress GownBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace F/W 1993 Runway Couture Sheer Knit Mesh Lace Bustier Black Evening Dress Gown IT 44 Excellent Condition!Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- NEW VERSACE BODYCON STRETCH KNIT DRESS in ORANGE with CUT-OUT SHOULDERS 42 - 6By VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXVERSACE This stretch tight fitting knit dress is both versatile and stylish. Color: Orange Round neck Cut-out shoulders Content: 90% viscose, 10% elastane IT Size 42 - US 6 ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- The little black dress by Chanel black and white silk Sculpted figureLocated in Bilbao, ESAbsence of vulgarity was central to Chanel’s definition of luxury, a view formed during her impoverished early life. Born in 1883 in Saumur, France, as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, she was just 12 years old when her mother died and her itinerant father put her in a home for orphaned girls run by a local convent. She learned to sew and, upon moving to Moulins six years later, became a seamstress. She also sang in nightclubs, earning the sobriquet “Coco,” an allusion to a popular song of the time. Beautiful, one of a kind vintage silk dress and jacket for everyday ware as a coktail dress...Category
1990s Aesthetic Evening Dresses
$2,730 Sale Price32% Off - Givenchy Printed Plunging Maxi DressBy GivenchyLocated in Geneva, CHWonderful 70's silhouette with this Givenchy maxi dress. Made of airy silk chiffon featuring a red and white graphic print, the dress has a deep plunging neckline at the front and re...Category
1970s French Maxi Dresses
- F/2012 look # 6 NEW VERSACE MACRAME GOTHIC CROSS COCKTAIL SILK DRESS 38 - 2By VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXVERSACE Actual Runway Samole Fall/Winter 2012 Look # 6 Macrame Gothic Cross Cocktail Dress This long sleeve, turtle neck cocktail dress features an allover macrame Gothic cross...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses