Balenciaga: shaping fashion

Abstract

Revered by his contemporaries and subsequent fashion designers, Christóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) represented the pinnacle of haute couture in the 1950s and '60s. His exquisite craftsmanship and pioneering use of fabrics and cutting set the tone for the modernity of the late twentieth century. Known for his exceptional tailoring and glamourous clientele, including Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Pauline de Rothschild, Ava Gardner and Marlene Dietrich. Cristóbel Balenciaga remains one of the most celebrated yet enigmatic designers of all time. This fully revised and extended edition offers a thorough examination of the couturier's designs and business practice, places him firmly in the context of the time, and concludes with a new chapter and case studies exploring his legacy in detail. Lesley Ellis Miller is Senior Curator of Textiles in the Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department at the V&A. She oversaw the new Europe 1600-1815 galleries at the Museum, and has publishing widely on the eighteen-century French silk industry.