12 magnificent creations by Balenciaga

12 designs - from day wear to glamorous evening gowns - by the most outstanding designer of the 20th century at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin

By Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Kunstgewerbemuseum, National Museums in Berlin

Woollen Suit (1965) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Balenciaga at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin

Spanning three centuries, the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin houses one of the most comprehensive collection of fashion in Germany. With the acquisition of one of the world’s most important private fashion collections formerly owned by Martin Kamer und Wolfgang Ruf in 2003, key items of the 20th century including a selection of dresses and hats by Cristóbal Balenciaga became available for the public audience. The small but exquisite collection of Balenciagas designs captures the genius of this outstanding designer in a nutshell. Day and evening wear highlight his innovative design which is crowned by an early example of his craftsmanship from 1939/40.

Portrait of Cristóbal Balenciaga (1947) by UnknownKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Cristóbal Balenciaga

After an apprenticeship as a tailor, Balenciaga, born in Guetaría in Northern Spain, opened his first couture house in San Sebastián in 1917. Further branches followed, first in Madrid (Eisa) and later in Barcelona. In 1937, at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga left Spain and founded a new business in Paris. He had a resounding success with his very first collection. Cristóbal Balenciaga is one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. His elegant creations of almost sculptural simplicity are the expression of his constant search for perfection, both in the cut and in the workmanship. Unlike Christian Dior Balenciaga did not launch a new line every season, to which the customers had to adapt. He was interested in developing lines which produced fundamental solutions for his customers.

Green Mohairdress (1959) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Day Wear

Balenciaga’s work is marked out by complex construction of simple patterns masterfully executed in exquisite fabrics. His day wear of coats and suits was of an ascetic simplicity that only reveals its secrets on closer inspection.

Red Turban, Cristóbal Balenciaga, ca. 1955, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Red Turban
Spain, ca. 1955

For this warm headgear, wool jersey was arranged in soft folds and fixed to a crown of stiffened linen. The turban has an ‘Eisa’ label, which means that it was bought in Cristóbel Balenciaga’s Madrid store.

Green Mohairdress (1959) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Green Mohairdress
Paris, ca. 1959

This dress has just two parts, which overlap each other and are connected by just one small seam, hidden by the bows. The front part is tailored closer to the body by means of darts, while the back part drops loosely.

Green Mohairdress - back view, Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1959, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Olivegreen Ladies Coat (ca. 1963) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Olivegreen Ladies Coat
Paris, ca. 1963

He perfected successful ideas, such as the Sack line (1957) and the Empire line (1959) and returned to them time and time again.

This narrow coat with batwing sleeve is made from one piece of cloth. One seam under chest and arm was sufficient for Balenciaga to give the coat its three dimensional form.

Woollen Suit (1965) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Woollen Suit
Paris, 1965

This businesslike suit is lent a jaunty look by the addition of pocket flaps, while the collar away from the neck and the three-quarter length sleeved give it a very feminine appearance. The knee-length skirt is gathered around the waist by a wide waistband and falls straight.

Lilac Suit, Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1966, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Lilac Suit
Paris, 1966

This suit also illustrates Balenciaga’s minimalistic art of omission. The back and the sleeves consist of one piece, forming the round shoulders and the straight back, Balenciaga was aiming. The simple skirt is made of a single length of fabric worked as a parallelogram and thus has simply one diagonal on the back running seam, and the zipper has been inserted into this.

Short Evening Gown (ca. 1955) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Evening
wear

Balenciaga’s evening creations reveal extraordinary imagination and surprise with their diversity of forms, fabrics and decorations.

Eveninggown with Black Lace (ca. 1940) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Evening Gown with Black Lace
Paris, ca. 1940

Diego Velazquez‘ painting Las Meninas inspired Cristóbal Balenciaga several times for dresses in the so called Infanta-Style. The black lace-ribbon accentuates the vertical line of top and skirt.

Pink Silk Taffeta Ball Gown with Separate Belt (1955) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Ball Gown of Pink Taffeta Silk
Paris, 1955

Often inspired by historical models Balenciaga here offers a modern interpretation of the late 19th century bustle. For this short evening gown he draped the light, yet solid silk taffeta to lush bowl wrinkles. They coat skirt and corset and are taken back together to form a cascade.

The gown comes from the possession of Elisabeth Firestone (1897-1990). In 1921, she married Harvey S. Firestone Jr. of the American dynasty of tyre manufacturers. She was voted bestdressed woman of the year several times and counted amongst the long-standing customers of the house of Balenciaga.

As if momentarily swept up, pink silk taffeta drapes in luxuriant transverse shirring over a narrow waist.

A triple trim of white machine lace is visible beneath the silk taffeta hemline.

Short Evening Gown (ca. 1955) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Short Evening Gown
Paris, ca. 1955

In sharp contrast is this fragrant ball gown, made of black tulle woven with flowers. Inspiration came from the mantillas of black lace, that already Francisco de Goya represented in his portraits.

Evening Hat of Black Ribbon, Attributed to Cristóbal Balenciaga, ca. 1955, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Evening Hat of Black Ribbon
Paris, ca. 1955

The cap is extensively covered in short silk ribbons and cites the black lace mantillas of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s native Spain.

Balloon Dress with Pink Polka Dots (ca. 1958) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Balloon Dress with Pink Polka Dots
Paris, 1958

Balenciaga drew inspiration for the cut and decoration of this billowing ball gown from the costumes of the flamenco dancers in his native Spain.

The billowing form is a result of the voluminous taffeta, which gathered loosely at the knee. The skirt is shorter in front, and a transverse shirring with a bow offers structure to the mass of fabric.

Pink Sling-Back Pumps, R. Delicata, ca. 1958, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Pink Sling-Back Pumps by R. Delicata
Paris, 1958

Elisabeth Firestone (1897-1990) wore these sling-back pumps, covered in bright pink taffeta, with Balenciaga’s polka-dot dress.

Cocktail Dress with Buttoned Shoulder Collar, Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1959, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Cocktail Dress with Collar
Paris, 1959

For this pure cocktail dress of monastic strength Cristóbal Balenciaga combined the simple nun’s collar with a seductive low-cut neckline.

Grand Evening Ensemble, Dress with Coat (ca. 1955) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Grand Evening Ensemble
Paris, ca. 1960

Monastic formality also characterizes this evening dress in princess line. It is worn under a wide coat without closure, made of double folded crêpe Marocain.

The corsage bodice is adorned with a bow - a recurring detail in Balenciaga's designs.

Evening Hat with Feather Trim, Attributed to Cristóbal Balenciaga, ca. 1960, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Evening Hat with Feather Trim
Paris, ca. 1960

Here a long pendulous tail of green ostrich feathers fixed on tulle is attached at the back of a small cap of black silk satin. Narrow strips of reflective green foil are attached to individual feather tufts.

Eveninggown with Train, Cristóbal Balenciaga, ca. 1965, From the collection of: Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
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Evening Gown with Train
Paris, ca. 1965

On the hip-length, simple top a slightly ruffled skirt in Peacock-Line is attached. The stiff silk fabric called Gazar lends the dress its sculptural quality.

Yellow Evening Ensemble (ca. 1966/1967) by Cristóbal BalenciagaKunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Yellow Evening Ensemble
Paris, 1966/67

The rigid silk fabric Gazar developed for Cristóbal Balenciaga by Swiss textile firm Abraham required a minimalist cut that lends architectonical clarity.

In 1968 he closed down his business and retired to Spain.

This small focus exhibition on Cristóbal Balenciaga comprising just 12 models and three hats shows examples of the major features of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s art. As Christian Dior said of him, “He is the master of us all.”

Credits: Story

Text: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz / Christine Waidenschlager

Concept: Christine Waidenschlager

Editing / Realisation: Merle Walter

Translation: Übersetzungsbüro Nastula / Catherine Hales and Stephan Schmidt

© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz www.smb.museum

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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