Cristóbal Balenciaga

1895-1972

Cristóbal Balenciaga, couturier espagnol, a révolutionné le concept de l'habillement et de la silhouette féminine. Sa précision, sa maîtrise de la technique et son perfectionnisme lui vaudront l’admiration de ses collègues et contemporains, comme Christian Dior qui l’appelait « notre maître à tous », ou Hubert de Givenchy qui se référait à lui comme « l’architecte de la Haute Couture ». Toujours en quête d'innovations, il cherchait à obtenir plus de simplicité et de pureté dans les formes.

  • haute couture 1938

    Jacket, Balenciaga

    Tailored jacket in black chevron wool, three-buttoned front closure, four cutout crescent-shaped pockets on the chest and the front hip.

    1938

    FAA.BAL.0069

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture 1940

    Jacket, Balenciaga

    Short redingote in black wool, fitted bust with five-button closure, turned-down crossed collar.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0068

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1950

    Redingote, Balenciaga

    Short redingote in black wool, fitted bust with five-button closure, turned-down crossed collar.

    Spring-summer 1950

    FAA.BAL.0045

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1949

    Coat dress, Balenciaga

    Coat dress in black wool, mandarin collar, slitted flap pockets on the hips.

    Spring-summer 1949

    FAA.BAL.0016

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1967

    Tailored suit, Balenciaga

    Tailored suit in black wool, jacket with a rhinestone-button closure, pencil skirt.

    Autumn-winter 1967

    FAA.BAL.0058.1-2

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, circa 1956

    Robe, Balenciaga

    Dress in black wool, also called “sack dress”, three-quarter sleeves.

    Circa 1956

    FAA.BAL.0009

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1940

    Coat, Balenciaga

    Short coat in black wool crêpe, rounded neckline with single-button closure.

    Autumn-winter 1940

    FAA.BAL.0047

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1968

    White coat, Balenciaga

    Coat with a straight and voluminous cut in ivory wool, turned-down collar with closure fastened by a spherical gold metal button.

    Spring-summer 1968

    FAA.BAL.0072

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1962

    Tailor, Balenciaga

    Cape ensemble with notched lapels, high-waisted pencil skirt, black cloqué silk with crocodile effect.

    Autumn-winter 1962

    FAA.BAL.0035.1-3

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1960

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Sleeveless cocktail dress in black wool crêpe, effect creating a draped volume on the back.

    Autumn-winter 1960

    FAA.BAL.0003

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1960

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Cocktail dress in black wool crêpe, fitted waist, scarf-like panel draped over the shoulder, bows decorating the backside.

    Spring-summer 1960

    FAA.BAL.0001

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1968

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Ruffled cocktail dress in black gazar with pink flower at the waist.

    Spring-summer 1968

    FAA.BAL.0018

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1968

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Cocktail dress with dropped waist in black guipure lace, black satin ribbon belted at the waist.

    Spring-summer 1968

    FAA.BAL.0004

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Sylvie Delpech

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1961

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Ruffled evening dress in pink silk gazar.

    Spring-summer 1961

    FAA.BAL.0033.2-2

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1963

    Cocktail ensemble, Balenciaga

    Cocktail ensemble with cape and short sleeveless dress in black silk taffeta, gathered at the waist, embroidered motif “broderie anglaise” composed of black beading on the hem.

    Autumn-winter 1963

    FAA.BAL.0034.1-2

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1962

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Short cocktail dress in black silk chiffon, black satin straps, ruffled black decoration in Chantilly.

    Spring-summer 1962

    FAA.BAL.0007

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1950

    Cocktail dress, Balenciaga

    Cocktail dress, black lace and satin.

    1950

    FAA.BAL.0022

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1961

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Evening dress in black silk, layered ruffles in Chantilly lace along the length of the front as well as the train.

    Autumn-winter 1961

    FAA.BAL.0006

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1940

    Short jacket, Balenciaga

    Short peplum jacket in black silk taffeta, large lapels, edges of the collar and the hem decorated with embroidered and jet-beaded tassels.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0054

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1945

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Long evening dress in black crêpe de Chine, long cuffed bishop sleeves, embroidered decoration in black sequins at the neckline and at the hips.

    1945

    FAA.BAL.0027

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1940

    Bolero, Balenciaga

    Bolero without sleeves in black silk velvet, embroidered trimming with small black tassels along the edges.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0055

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, spring-summer 1968

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Long evening dress in white guipure lace, high slits on both sides, decorated with black satin bows.

    Spring-summer 1968

    FAA.BAL.0076

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1940

    Bolero, Balenciaga

    Bolero in black silk, shawl collar, three-quarter sleeves, decoration composed of trimmings and black tassels.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0056

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1940

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Evening dress in fine terry and gold sequins.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0028

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1954

    Robe de cocktail, Balenciaga

    Short cocktail dress in black taffeta, balloon skirt, short sleeves, buttoned in the back.

    Autumn-winter 1954

    FAA.BAL.0002

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1958

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Long strapless evening dress in black organza, balloon skirt with asymmetrical hem.

    Autumn-winter 1958

    FAA.BAL.0075

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1940

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Evening dress black crêpe, sweetheart neckline with buttons.

    1940

    FAA.BAL.0025

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1957

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Pink silk evening dress, balloon effect skirt, draped back neckline and wrap around front.

    Autumn-winter 1957

    FAA.BAL.0030

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1959

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Long evening dress in black satin with train, draped bodice in champagne silk satin.

    Autumn-winter 1959

    FAA.BAL.0023

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

  • haute couture, autumn-winter 1967

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Evening dress in black silk velvet with rhinestones and pearls.

    Autumn-winter 1967

    FAA.BAL.0024

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

    Ph. Stéphane Aït Ouarab

  • haute couture, 1960

    Evening dress, Balenciaga

    Long evening dress with a train in black cloqué silk, draped bodice.

    1960

    FAA.BAL.0026

    Azzedine Alaïa Foundation