Cristóbal Balenciaga; The Great Master of Couture

Discover now the intimate world of Cristóbal Balenciaga, the "Fashion's Picasso" as Cecil Beaton called him. A tribute to the great Spanish designer, the exhibition Cristóbal Balenciaga, collector of fashion at Les Docks - Cité de la Mode et du Design features over seventy costumes, alongside with haute couture coats and dresses designed by Balenciaga from 1937 to 1968. Also on display are personal items, such as accessories, photographs, sketches, and art books that demonstrate the designer's passion for history, and his cultural heritage.

Velvet boleros, satin torero costumes, magnificent capes and mantelets, cashmere stoles, lace mantillas,   dresses, samples of embroidery and trimming, all these lavish items figure in profusion in this collection assembled by the the great master of couture and generously donated to the museum by his family.

The Galliera Museum's extra-mural program continues at Les Docks - Cité de la Mode et du Design with two simultaneous exhibitions dedicated to two renowned fashion designers from different periods of time: Cristóbal Balenciaga and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons (see my previous post on Rei Kawakubo's exhibit).

Cristóbal Balenciaga

1937-1968

© Pierre Antoine / Paris Musées

© Pierre Antoine / Paris Musées

© Pierre Antoine / Paris Musées

© Pierre Antoine / Paris Musées

 Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Crinoline dress, around 1870 © Delphine Jaulhac / Galliera

Balenciaga. Bolero and skirt (details), 1949

© Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Boléro, early 20th century

© Delphine Jaulhac / Galliera

Balenciaga. Dress coat "Papillon", 1968

© E. Emo and A. Llaurency / Galliera / Roget-Viollet

 Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Men's bolero, Spain mid-19th century

© Eric Emo / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Mantelet, around 1895

© Eric Emo / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Traditional men's jacket worn for Andalusian ballet, mid-19th century © Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Virgin dress, end of 18th century or early 19th century

© Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Cape, around 1895

© Eric Emo / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Private collection Cristóbal Balenciaga. Mantelet , around 1895

© Eric Emo / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Balenciaga. Evening dress number 128 F/W 1967. Balenciaga Archives Paris

Courtesy of Galliera Museum

Cristóbal Balenciaga, collector of fashion is on view at Les Docks - Cité de la Mode et du Design, Paris.

April 13 - October 7, 2012

Curator: Olivier Saillard, Director of the Galliera Museum
This post is featured on the Huffington Post