19. Cristóbal Balenciaga

A true fashion design innovator, favoured fluid lines, Dior referred to him as "the master of us all", daring, unique, avantguardiste brand

The Spanish Basque Fashion designer was born in 1895. He studied tailoring and found early success in his country, opened his first boutique in San Sebastian in 1919, then expanded his business to Madrid and Barcelona. The Spanish aristocracy wore his designs but due to the Civil War he had to move to Paris where he opened his couture house in 1937.

In post-war years he totally transformed womenswear silhoutte by broadening the shoulders and removing the waist, his design became streamlined and linear. He invented the sack and chemise dress, balloon jacket and skirt, high waisted baby dolls, and cocoon coat.

In the 1960s he became innovative in the use of fabric—bold materials, heavy clothes, ornate embroideries. He died in 1972.

Website: http://www.balenciaga.com/

His own creations

Woman-modeling-Balenciaga-coat-and-dress-294x300

war years CB

The young Balenciaga in 1927

post war 2

Jackie Kennedy Onassis in Balenciaga Dress

Evening Dress of C Balenciaga in 1967

Cristobal-BalenciagaINT03

Cristobal Balenciaga, Vogue, September 1950, Model Dovima, Photograph Irving Penn.

Christobal_Balenciaga_flamenco_inspired_evening_dress,_1951._Henry_ClarkeVogue._©_Condé_Nast.

Christobal Balenciaga evening ensemble, 1967

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Black taffeta cocktail dress designed by Cristobal Balenciaga in 1951

Balenciaga dress and coat in 1955

Balenciaga double cacoon gown, Vogue - 1950

BalenciagaWedding Dress 1972

After his death

In 1986, Jacques Bogart S.A. acquired the rights to Balenciaga. The first collection was designed by Michel Goma in October 1987, who remained at the house for the next five years to mixed reviews.

In 1997, at the young age of 25, Nicolas Ghesquière was the surprise choice to head Paris fashion house Balenciaga, he stayed there until 2012 when he joined the Louis Vuitton company.

Nicolas Ghesquirre's Collections between 2002-2004

Fall 2001

Spring 2002

Fall 2002

Spring 2003

Fall 2003

Spring 2004

Fall 2004

Source: http://www.fashionreactor.com/temp/index.php/en/categories/fashion/others/279-15-years-nicolas-ghesquiere-for-balenciaga

Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga at Academy Awards Gala in 2006, source: google.com

As of November 2012 Alexander Wang became the new creative director at Balenciaga. His first show was the Autumn/Winter Collection of 2013:

Alexander Wang Balenciaga AW 2013 (4)

Alexander Wang Balenciaga AW 2013 (3)

Alexander Wang Balenciaga AW 2013 (2)

Alexander Wang Balenciaga AW 2013 (1)

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/alexander-wang-s-balenciaga-debut.html

After 3 years Wang resigned and since October 2015 the creative director is Demna Gvasalia from Georgia. He studied at Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He led design teams at Maison Martin Margiela and Louis Vuitton and he is also a co-founder of the label called Vetements.

Read more:

http://www.fashiontime.hu/kulfoldidivattervezok/1488/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crist%C3%B3bal_Balenciaga

http://cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com/Biography-and-milestones.html

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bale/hd_bale.htm

http://wikifashion.com/wiki/Balenciaga

http://www.fashiontime.hu/kulfoldidivattervezok/1488/

http://angelasancartier.net/cristobal-balenciaga

http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/education/cristobal-balenciaga-1895-1972

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/cristobal-balenciaga/

http://arttattler.com/designbalenciaga.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/alexander-wang-s-balenciaga-debut.html

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2015/10/07/vetements-demna-gvasalia-moves-to-balenciaga-what-to-know

http://www.complex.com/style/2015/10/who-is-demna-gvasalia-balenciaga-vetements-creative-director/what-is-vetements