BALENCIAGA red leather CLASSIC CITY MEDIUM Bag
View Similar Items
BALENCIAGA red leather CLASSIC CITY MEDIUM Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 9.85 in (25 cm)Width: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- Reference Number:Seller: 622441stDibs: LU1380211381362
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.
- BURBERRY red grainy leather TB SMALL Shoulder BagBy BurberryLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Burberry Small TB Shoulder Bag in red grained calfskin with a gold-tone metal Thomas Burberry Monogram clasp. Opens with a flap with c...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- OSCAR DE LA RENTA red LIZARD BOX Clutch BagBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Oscar de la Renta Box Clutch in red lizard leather. Opens with an orange and gold-tone clasp to a red silk satin interior. Has been carried once or twice and is in exc...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- VALENTINO red leather VRING LARGE TOTE BagBy ValentinoLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Valentino large VRING tote bag in red leather featuring gold-tone metal logo plaque attachment at the front that is decorated with a matching red leather trim keyring ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- HERMES Havane brown Clemence leather BOLIDE 45 Travel BagBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CHHermes "Bolide" travel bag in Havane (chestnut brown) Taurillon Clemence leather. Open with a zipper on top. Lined in leather and beige cotton. Has been carried with two small black ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- HERMES black Epsom leather KELLY 28 SELLIER Bag PhwBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Hermès Kelly 28 Sellier bag in black Veau Epsom featuring palladium hardware. Lined in Chevre (goat skin) with an open pocket against the front and a zipper pocket aga...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- BOTTEGA VENETA beige Intrecciato KARUNG & TORTOISE Top Handle Bag LIMTED EDITIONBy Bottega VenetaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Bottega Veneta Limited Edition 100/150 top handle bag in brown and beige Intrecciato karung leather embellished with faux tortoise appliq...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Kelly 20 Mini Epsom Rose Extreme Gold HardwareBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Kelly 20 Mini Rose Extreme Epsom Leather Gold Hardware Condition & Year: New 2019 Measurements: 7.5in. (w) x 4.5in. (h) x 2.2in. (d) Material: Epsom Leather Hardware: Go...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Louis Vuitton Exotic Leather HandbagBy Louis VuittonLocated in London, GBLouis Vuitton Deesse Exotic Leather Handbag Condition: Excellent condition Colour: Fuchsia Season: All Box: NO material: Crocodile Leather Introduci...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Exceptionnel sac à main Hermes Kelly 25 cm en veau DoblisBy HermèsLocated in CANNES, FRExceptional Hermes Kelly 25 cm handbag in Doblis calfskin and refined brushed gold hardware, simple handle in orange suede, a simple removable handle in orange suede leather allowing...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
- HERMÈS Bolide 1995 Tan Leather Bag GHW VintageBy HermèsLocated in London, GBHERMÈS Bolide 1995 Tan Leather Bag GHW Vintage A timeless classic vintage 1995 Hermès Bolide bag in cavalerie tan-gold colour in Courchevel leather wit...Category
1990s French Shoulder Bags
- Chrome Hearts Doc Adams Fleur De Lis Suede Orange Handle BagBy Chrome HeartsLocated in Bear, DEChrome Hearts Doc Adams Fleur De Lis Suede Orange Handle Bag Great condition (view detailed photos) Extremely rare Chrome Doc Adams Orange Suede colorway NOTE: missing the body st...Category
2010s American Top Handle Bags
- Hermes 30cm Red Birkin BagBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHERMES 30cm Red Birkin Bag with Silver Hardware 100% Authentic Hermes Birkin Bag COLOR: Red MATERIAL: Leather HARDWARE: Silver ORIGIN: France CONDITION:...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
$30,000