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Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga (1896-1972) started in the fashion business as a tailor in Spain. In 1917, he established Eisa Fashion House, named for his mother. He left Spain due to the Spanish Civil War, and went to Paris. There he opened his couture house in 1937. The business was closed from 1940 until 1945, but reopened after the war. Balenciaga retired in 1968, and died four years later.

He was known for his sculptural approach to design. The cut and construction was often quite complicated, but the result was seemingly simple. He was called “the master of us all” by Christian Dior.
Noted designers who worked for Balenciaga included Oscar de la Renta, Andre Courrèges, and Emanuel Ungaro. Hubert de Givenchy was his most famous protégé.

After Balenciaga’s death, the rights to the label were acquired by a German firm, who produced clothing under the label until 1986. The House of Balenciaga was purchased and relaunched with a ready to wear line of clothing in 1987. Michel Goma was creative director from 1987 until 1992. He was succeeded by Josephus Thimister, Nicolas Ghesquière and Alexander Wang. In 2015, Demna Gvasalia became the new creative director. The luxury group Kering is the current owner of Balenciaga.

“Balenciaga abides by the law that elimination is the secret of chic.” Harper’s Bazaar, 1938

See also: Eisa

Written by fuzzylizzie and updated by the VFG in 2022

from a late 1940s/early 1950s hat (reproduction) - Courtesy of circavintage

from a late 1940s/early 1950s hat (reproduction)

Courtesy of circavintage

from a 1960s dress - Courtesy of pf1

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of pf1

from a 1960s evening dress/jacket - Courtesy of the Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection

from a 1960s evening dress/jacket

Courtesy of the Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection

from a 1960s necklace - Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1960s necklace

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1960s suit (adaptation) - Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a 1960s suit (adaptation)

Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a pair of 1960s shoes - Courtesy of shopping goddess

from a pair of 1960s shoes

Courtesy of shopping goddess

from a 1980s scarf - Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1980s scarf

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1980s dress - Courtesy of mags_rags

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of MagsRags

from a 1980s taffeta blouse - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s taffeta blouse

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s dress - Courtesy of Odessa Vintage

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of Odessa Vintage

from a late 1940s/early 1950s hat (reproduction)

Courtesy of circavintage

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of pf1

from a 1960s evening dress/jacket

Courtesy of the Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection

from a 1960s necklace

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a 1960s suit (adaptation)

Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a pair of 1960s shoes

Courtesy of shopping goddess

from a 1980s scarf

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of mags_rags

from a 1980s taffeta blouse

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s dress

Courtesy of Odessa Vintage

from a shirt from the SNCF uniforms created by Balenciaga in 1990 and used between 1990-1996

Courtesy of pl_vgnt