Spanish-inspired Balenciaga has been desired above all since 1918, when Cristóbal Balenciaga launched his first boutique in the small Spanish town of San Sebastian, introducing couture bubble skirts and unusual feminine, yet mega-modern shapes, to the fashion world. It didn’t take long for the locals to take the designs under their wing and their newfound taste helped the company expand to embrace additional stores in Madrid and Barcelona. After some time, Balenciaga was being worn by the Spanish Royal family and the aristocracy. However, to the deep dismay of his beloved clients, the Spanish Civil War forced the designer to close his stores. The company moved to Paris in 1937, and in that same year was Balenciaga’s first runway show, featuring designs that were greatly influenced by the Spanish Renaissance. Within two years, his designs were exceedingly sought and the French press even christened him as a revolutionary. The designs were such a hit that Balenciaga’s customers often jeopardized their safety to travel to Europe during World War II to buy his chic clothes. During these years, Balenciaga was noted for his “square coat” with sleeves cut in a single piece and for his designs featuring black lace over dazzling pink fabric. After the war ended, Balenciaga’s lines became more linear and sleek, differing from the hourglass shape popularized by Christian Dior, who at one point referred to Balenciaga as “the master of us all.” The flowing of his silhouettes enabled him to exploit the relationship between his designs and a woman’s body. In the 60’s, Balenciaga became even more of an innovator in the use of fabrics, which tended toward weighty fabrics, elaborate embroidery, and audacious materials. Today, the house is run by Nicolas Ghesquiére, who, since Balenciaga’s death in 1972, has aspired from a designer for the label, to creative director. Stars like Jennifer Connelly and Nicole Kidman have been avid wearers of the brand’s avant-garde structural pieces for years, making Balenciaga on the edge of fashion and in the future, of ready-to-wear.
