What was cristobal balenciaga known for

By , Balenciaga was being praised in the French press as a revolutionizing force in fashion, with buyers and customers fighting to gain access to his collection.

The clothing he created was different than the popular, curvy hourglass shape that Christian Dior promoted with his New Look. In came the creation of his high-waisted baby doll dress, the gracefully draped cocoon coat, and the balloon skirt, shown as a single pouf or doubled, one pouf on top of the other. Neither the sack dress, introduced in , nor the chemise of had a discernible waist, but both were considered universally flattering and were copied by a large number of ready-to-wear manufacturers at every price range.

With these design innovations, Balenciaga achieved what is considered to be his most important contribution to the world of fashion: a new silhouette for women.

Throughout the s, Balenciaga continued showing collections of unparalleled technique and beauty. His innovative use of fabric—he liked bold materials, heavy cloths, and ornate embroideries—led him to work with the Swiss fabric house of Abraham. Together they developed silk gazar, a stiffer version of the pliable fabric that Balenciaga used in suits, day dresses, and evening wear.

Loyal clients such as the Duchess of Windsor, Pauline de Rothschild, and Gloria Guinness continued to appreciate the discreet but important touches he provided in his clothing: collars that stood away from the collarbone to give a swanlike appearance and the shortened seven-eighths-length bracelet sleeve, so called because it enabled the wearer to better flaunt her jewelry. When the Balenciaga salon closed in , the occasion marked the end of the career of a great artist whose influence is still being felt in the twenty-first century.

Balenciaga died on March 24, , at home in his beloved Spain. His clothes made them beautiful. Charleston, Beth Duncuff. He created a fabric called silk gazar in collaboration with Swiss fabric house, Abraham. He further created staple pieces like the egg coat, the semi-fitted suit, and the peacock tail dress. His team had a bad reputation for being haughty and condescending. He dressed The Air France in-flight attendants back in The navy ensembles have been known as the most stylish cabin crew of all time.

A sculptural form, moulded from his favourite fabric — stiff but lightweight silk gazar. Although a big hit with the fashion press, only two were sold and one was returned because the client couldn't figure out how to go to the bathroom in it. Balenciaga dressed some of the most glamorous women of the s and 60s including Hollywood actress Ava Gardener, fashion icon Gloria Guinness and Mona von Bismarck, one of the world's wealthiest women, who commissioned everything from ball-gowns to gardening shorts from the couturier.

He liked to dress women who had a strong sense of style and his clients were often extremely loyal. When his fashion house closed in the news shocked his clinetele who experienced a real sense of loss — Mona von Bismarck supposedly shut herself in her room for three days straight. Balenciaga's legacy Unlike some other high-profile designers of the era, Balenciaga was a very private individual. He refused to court the press, giving only one interview during his year career.

Despite his allusive nature, Balenciaga led a revolution in fashion, and has consistently been revered by his contemporaries, including the likes of Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and the fashion leaders of today. The closure of Balenciaga's fashion house in , and his death four years later, marked the end of an era.

Yet the master's innovative pattern cutting, use of new materials and bold architectural shapes have remained greatly influential. In the Balenciaga label re-launched under a series of Creative Directors. Both designers have worked closely with the Balenciaga House archives, looking to the original designs by The Master for inspiration in cut, shape and materials.

As Gvasalia said of his latest collection, which drew heavily on iconic pieces by the house-founder "It is important to know the past in order to build the future". Many pieces were sourced for the Museum by society photographer Cecil Beaton, who used his contacts to assemble a prestigious collection of 20th century couture. This filled a significant gap in the Museum's archive, and in formed the basis of the groundbreaking exhibition Fashion: an Anthology by Cecil Beaton.

Today our Balenciaga pieces are some of the most frequently studied in our Fashion collections, remaining a constant source of inspiration for the next generation of fashion designers. Find out about our major exhibition, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion.