A Balenciaga haute couture dress suit, circa 1960
View Similar Items
A Balenciaga haute couture dress suit, circa 1960
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 42.13 in (107 cm)Bust: 33.08 in (84 cm)Waist: 26.78 in (68 cm)Hip: 37.01 in (94 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Dress and jacket are in excellent condition with some marks to the fabric, which are lost within the print, and have no tears nor any alterations. Both pieces bear the original labels, silk linings and fabric-matched buttons.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 1006661stDibs: LU724404902
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 French Brown Chiné Wool Skirt Suit by Veronese - Paris Circa 1975Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1975 France A brown and white Chiné mohair wool skirt suit from the Parisian label Veronese dating from the 1970s. Straight jacket with long sleeves and a small turned-down c...Category
1970s French Skirt Suits
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld brown tweed pleated coat, skirt and hat set, fw 1998By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel brown tweed wool tweed coat, skirt and hat set ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Pleated jacket with spread collar and hook fastenings ▪ Belt with brass...Category
1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Fendi Beige Logo Embroidered Mesh Bodysuit SBy FendiLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2The designer bodysuit exudes elegance with its soft, finely woven fabric. The form-fitting silhouette seamlessly blends comfort and style, featuring an embroidered pattern.Category
2010s European Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- John Galliano white broderie anglaise cotton skirt suit, ss 1996By John GallianoLocated in London, GBJohn Galliano white broderie anglaise cotton skirt suit comprising: fitted blazer jacket with hidden front button fastenings, notched lapel and acc...Category
1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Yves Saint Laurent Blue Wool Pant Suit Haute Couture 36FR/38FRBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRYves Saint Laurent - (Made in France) Blue wool Haute Couture pantsuit with blue silk satin sleeve lapels. No size nor composition label, it fits a 36...Category
1980s French Trouser Pant Suits
- Red linen skirt-suit with jewlerry buttons Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche SS1992By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRRed linen skirt-suit with jewlerry buttons. Lining composition: acetate & rayon. Shoulder pad. SIZE 34 (Fr) on tag but fit more likely M for the jacket and S for the skirtCategory
1990s French Skirt Suits