This year would have marked Cristóbal Balenciaga’s 120th birthday – another good reason to honour Spain’s ‘master of lace’ with a large exhibition.
Cristóbal Balenciaga had a unique talent for converting lace into stunning haute couture. And his imagination knew no bounds, either. From plain blouses to shoes, from elegant evening dresses to home decoration – lace was everywhere in his work. Balenciaga had mastered the art of sewing by the tender age of eleven. By the 1930s, he had already opened three boutiques in Spain, before deciding to move to Paris in 1936 – partly influenced by the troubles of the Spanish civil war. Just a year later, his first shop in Paris opened its doors.
New shapes
Balenciaga revolutionised women’s fashion. He created loose, voluminous silhouettes with wide shoulders and boxy cuts. His egg-shaped coat and the baby doll have become permanent fixtures in the world of fashion.
Balenciaga passsed away on 23 March 1972. Just a few days beforehand, he completed his last design – a wedding dress.
The exhibition is running until August
The exhibition at the Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode in Calais is showing several legendary haute couture designs by Cristóbal Balenciaga, as well as many of his sketches and drawings. There are a total of 75 outfits on display, including numerous accessories, such as hats, shoes and gloves. The Balenciaga exhibition in Calais is running from 18 April to 23 August. Further details can be found at www.cite-dentelle.fr
