Image courtesy of 'the iron chic' blospot

The Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York will be hosting the first ever in-depth exhibition containing the work of Balenciaga. The exhibition scheduled for November 2010 will be showcasing Spanish culture in the aim to expose the impact it had on Cristobal Balenciaga’s career.

Balenciaga, a luxury brand every woman lusts over and yet we know so little about it. Cristobal Balenciaga Eizaguirre, a Spanish couturier founded Balenciaga the fashion house. A tale of clichés, Balenciaga as a boy was very close to his mother, from the age of twelve he was allowed to work as the apprentice of a tailor and from there he met the Marchioness de Casa Torres, the foremost noblewoman in his town. From then she was his most loyal customer and patron, she was the one who sent him to Madrid to train as a professional tailor and become a master couturier dominating the scene in Paris Haute Couture.

Image courtesy of 'the iron chic' blospot

Balenciaga opened his fashion house is 1937, his first shop opened in 1919 in San Sebastien and later expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona. As the Spanish Civil War forced him to close his stores, Balenciaga moved to Paris where he opened his couture house in August 1937 based on the Avenue George V off the Champs Elysee.

Image courtesy of 'the iron chic' blospot

Just as for Christian Dior, Balenciaga’s full-scale appreciation did not occur until after World War II where designers had to be more creative and transform the glum post-war fashions. Unlike ‘The New Look’, where Dior created full A-line skirts, Balenciaga broadened the shoulders, removed the waistline and formed a sort of tunic. He radically transformed the female silhouette. His 1955 ‘Tunic’ Dress is world renown and later evolved into the ‘Chemise Dress’ of 1957. His work culminated in Empire line inspired high-waisted dresses. His signature sculptural creations were evident throughout his career and were considered masterworks of haute couture of the 1950’s and 60’s.

Balenciaga retired in 1968 and with this his closed down first his Paris fashion house, then Barcelona and finally Madrid. He went on to teach fashion design classes to the likes of; Emanuel Ungaro, Andre Courreges and Oscar de La Renta.

Image courtsey of The Daily Telegraph

Oscar De La Renta conceived the retrospective exhibition and has teamed up with Hamish Bowles, Vogue’s European Editor-at-large to curate the exhibition. The exhibition guarantees opulence masterpieces and beautiful pieces to make you green with envy. Sixy items have been chosen, masterpieces such as his 1939 “Infanta” gown, the matador boleros from 1946, flamenco-inspired dresses from 1951 and 1961, and the extraordinary, embroidered 1957 wedding dress of Sonsoles Díez de Rivera.

Balenciaga: Spanish Master will be at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute from November 19th 2010 to February 19th 2011.

Today the Balenciaga brand continues under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquiere and is owned by the Gucci Group.