Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion

(Hardback)

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Haute Couture is like an orchestra, whose conductor is Balenciaga. We other couturiers are the musicians and we follow the direction he gives. Christian Dior Revered by his contemporaries and the source of inspiration to successive generations of fashion designers, Cristbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) represented the pinnacle of haute couture in the 1950s and 60s. Known for his exceptional tailoring and glamorous clientele, including Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Pauline de Rothschild, Ava Gardner and Marlene Dietrich, Cristbal Balenciaga (18951972) remains one of the most celebrated yet enigmatic designers. Balenciagas name is synonymous with quality, his clothes executed to the highest standards and characterized by sculptural shapes, deft manipulation of textiles and a dramatic use of colour. Many of his clients dressed almost exclusively in his designs which were celebrated for being both easy to wear and tailored to flatter any figure. This fully revised and extended edition of Balenciaga offers a thorough examination of the couturiers designs and business practice, and places him firmly in the context of the time, looking at the country in which he learned his trade and the international fashion scene in which he matured and triumphed. His perfectionism, effortless, iconic style and clothes wearability continue to influence designers to this day, with a new chapter and case studies exploring his legacy in extensive detail.

Reviews

'an intriguing tale, that provides valuable insights to the world of couture and twentieth century fashion. ' -- Olga Dritsopoulou * The Journal of Dress History, Volume 2, Issue 3, Autumn 2018 *

Author Bio

Lesley Ellis Miller is acting Keeper of Furniture Textiles and Fashion at the V&A. She oversaw the new Europe 1600 1815 galleries at the Museum, and has published widely on the eighteenth-century French silk industry.