Black & white printed shell top
View Similar Items
Black & white printed shell top
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S (NA)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 654311stDibs: LU550315715222
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.
- John Galliano SS-2002 Cotton Printed T-ShirtBy John GallianoLocated in Brussels, BEIn his 1990s collections, John Galliano frequently used print to spice up his more casual pieces, coming up with esoteric and symbolic schemes. This colorful hand resting on a printe...Category
Early 2000s French T-Shirts
- Dolce & Gabbana Denim Button downLocated in New York, NYSize: S Runs true to size Material: Denim Summer's Measurements: Height: 5"9 inches Bust: 32" inches Waist: 25" inches Hips: 36" inchesCategory
1990s Shirts
- Mission Striped Knit TeeLocated in New York, NYSize: XS Material: 67% Viscose, 33% Cotton Summer's Measurements: Height: 5"9 inches Bust: 32" inches Waist: 25" inches Hips: 36" inchesCategory
1990s T-Shirts
- KENZO JUNGLE Koi fish mesh Club Kid Shirt, late 1990sBy Kenzo, Kenzo JungleLocated in Genève, CH1990's Kenzo Jeans sheer stretch t-shirt with lovely Japanese theme print in a wonderful turquoise. Fabric is a sheer nylon stretch mesh, the kind that Gaultier made famous, and come...Category
1990s French T-Shirts
- 1974 Vivienne Westwood x Malcolm McClaren SEX tank topBy Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLarenLocated in Berlin, BEArchive tank top, 100% Cotton Length 47 cm, Width 36cm. Made in London, England. Museum worthy archive item. • Located in the 430 King’s Road, Vivienne Westwood opened SEX shop...Category
1970s English Tank Tops
- Chanel Fall 1998 Striped Knit TankBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYSuper Rare & Coveted. Fall 1998 Chanel Black & White Striped Knit Tank Top Shoulders 13 in Bust 34 in Waist 34 in Length 24 in Marked Size IT 42 Excellent Vintage Condition. Can acc...Category
1990s Tank Tops