Vintage 1950s Pierre Balmain Couture Navy Lace Illusion Strapless Dress & Jacket
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Style:1950s (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3095056471
Pierre Balmain
Pierre Balmain founded his now-iconic label in 1945. Alongside fellow couture titans Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, the French designer's postwar take on luxe dressing featured bell-shaped skirts falling from slender waists, structured jackets over sheath day dresses and embellishments like fur trim; he called the look “Jolie Madame.” The Duchess of Windsor was an early fan, prompting an aristocratic following.
From the voluminous skirts of the post-World War II “New Look” favored by Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich to the sleek, skinny jeans seen on Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and every Kardashian, clothes from the House of Balmain have long been mainstays in celebrity wardrobes.
The son of a dressmaker and a drapery salesman, Balmain's founder was born in 1914 in southeastern France and formed an interest in fashion at an early age. His mother wanted her son to be an architect — but the principles of design and structure that Pierre learned in his brief studies at the École des Beaux Arts served him well throughout his career.
Balmain was among the first to offer French looks to the American market. Since the death of the founder in 1982, the design reins at the company have been handed to luminaries such as Oscar de la Renta and Olivier Rousteing, an alum of Roberto Cavalli who was installed as creative director at the label in 2011.
Today’s Balmain has more in common with the master’s original haute couture than you might expect: sharply tailored blazers that nip in at the waist, delicate stilettos and ultra-feminine evening dresses are wardrobe basics for the 21st-century woman, too. Lovers of couture history will also prize the fluid, easy sketches from the master’s own hand they’ll find on offer here, while fashionistas clamor for the brand’s t-shirts, military-style jackets and skinny jeans.
Whether you’re a colonel in Rousteing’s “glamour army” or you fancy yourself a “Jolie Madame,” a Balmain piece — from the 1960s or even last season — will add a bold, sexy note to your look. Daytime or night, Balmain feels right now.
Find vintage Pierre Balmain dresses, skirts, scarves and other garments and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beverly Hills, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Vintage 1950's Marjon Couture Mauve Purple Silk Reverse-Halter Pleated GownLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA gorgeous mid-century formal gown by the Marjon Couture London fashion house. The fabric used is of the highest quality; shimmering light-weight mauve ...Category
1950s English Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1970s Stavropoulos Couture Purple Applique Silk One-Shoulder Fitted GownBy George StavropoulosLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGorgeous heavily sculpted Stavropoulos Couture purple silk gown dating back to the mid 1970's. George Stavropoulos was a New York fashion designer best known for his innovatively draped dresses and evening gowns that seemed to float in air. Many of his designs were influenced by the grace of classic Greek sculpture...Category
1970s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1960's Sapphire Blue Satin Asymmetric Pleated One-Shoulder Evening GownBy Victoria RoyalLocated in Beverly Hills, CAIn this gorgeous early 1960's Victoria Royal designer evening gown, the detailed construction and meticulous attention to detail are comparable ...Category
1960s American Ball Gowns
- Vintage 1970's Halston Couture Red Metallic Sheer Knit Long-Sleeve Dress GownBy HalstonLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGorgeous Halston Couture metallic lurex knit dress ensemble dating back to the mid 1970's. Throughout most of the seventies he epitomized the glamour, as well as the decadence of the...Category
1970s Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1998 Pierre Balmain Haute Couture Sheer Illusion Appliqué Net Lace GownBy Oscar De La Renta, Pierre Balmain Haute CoutureLocated in Beverly Hills, CABreathtaking Pierre Balmain haute couture runway gown from when Oscar de la Renta was head designer. The House of Balmain always creates a...Category
1990s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1970's Embroidered Patchwork Cotton Maxi Dress Worn By Zsa Zsa GaborLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA vibrant, early 1970's Joann Lopez designer embroidered cotton dress straight from Zsa Zsa Gabor's wardrobe. This dress dates back to the h...Category
1970s American Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Prada fucsia purple tulle dressBy PradaLocated in Capri, ITPrada's latest runway collection featured glowing fluorescents contrasted with tweed and construction-inspired vests, with this tulle dress making its wa...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Cotton Maxi DressLocated in Carnate, ITVintage Cotton Maxi Dress Vintage dress no logo. Size and composition label missing. Purple / blue color. Fits an Italian 42. Measures 2...Category
Mid-20th Century Maxi Dresses
- Diane Von Furstenberg Silk Mid-Length Dress in MulticolourBy Diane von FurstenbergLocated in Carnate, ITDiane Von Furstenberg Silk Mid-Length Dress in Multicolour Diane Von Furstenberg silk dress in shades of blue and pink. Three-quarter length slightly batwing sleeves, beaded necklin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- S/S 1998 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Ad Blue Yellow Asymmetric Knit DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a knit dress that debuted on the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 1998 runway on Shalom Harlow and on Erin O'Conner in the ad campaign shot by Richard Avedon. Also captured on Gisele Bündchen by Mario Testino for the "Sexy" editorial in the May 1998 issue of Allure Magazine. The brand's first show after the loss of Gianni, for which Donatella received a standing ovation...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- S/S 1991 Atelier Versace by Gianni Versace Grecian Tunic Two Piece Dress SetBy Atelier Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning Atelier Versace dress set from the S/S 1991 collection, designed by Gianni Versace. This extraordinary piece can be seen on the season's haute couture runway. C...Category
1990s Italian Greek Style Dresses
- F/W 1993 Gianni Versace Couture Blue Purple Green Red Stripe Velvet Mini DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a vibrant striped velvet Gianni Versace Couture mini dress, designed by Gianni Versace. The full-length version of this dress debuted as the finale look on the Fall/Winter...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
This Two-Piece Beaded Gown by Puerto Rican Designer David Fernandez Is the Embodiment of 1970s Glam
On the Met Gala red carpet, this vintage ensemble would bring the heat.
Madonna Wore the Same Plunging Azzedine Alaïa Design on the Cover of ‘Cosmo’ in 1987
The gold silk stunner was part of a knockout collection that changed the trajectory of Alaïa's then-troubled brand.