This November, Queen Sofía Spanish Institute will present BALENCIAGA: Spanish Master, the first exhibition to consider the impact of Spain's culture, history and art on one of its greatest twentieth-century sons, the legendary designer Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972). Hailed as "Fashion's Picasso" by Cecil Beaton, Balenciaga's innovations transformed the way women dressed, from the opening of his Paris fashion house in 1937 until his retirement in 1968. His visionary designs and impeccable standards seduced generations of the best-dressed women in the world. The exhibition was conceived by Oscar de la Renta, Chairman of the Institute's Board of Directors, who has worked closely with the exhibition team to develop and realize the show. Mr. de la Renta himself began his career in fashion working in Madrid at Eisa, one of the Spanish branches of Balenciaga's fashion empire. The exhibition curator is Hamish Bowles, Vogue's European Editor at Large.
Cristobal Balenciaga - House of Balenciaga
Balenciaga 1955 | Dovima with Sacha Cloche by Balenciaga, by Richard Avedon (Café des Deux Magots, Paris. Aug 1055)Link to this exhibition featured on our blog's corner "We propose an outing to..." (left column)
Balenciaga 1955 | Evening floral dress
Cocoa-colored Balenciaga dress by Irving Penn, 1950
Balenciaga 1950 | Harper's Bazaar by Richard Avedon
Balenciaga 1948 | Elise Daniels in Balenciaga, by Richard Avedon (Le Marais, Paris 1948)