The Master

Born 1895 in Getaria, Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was the founder of the House of Balenciaga in 1937. First apprenticed with a tailor and later on formally trained in tailoring, Balenciaga was very well-respected for his ability to design, fit, patternmake, cut and sew himself - which even Christian Dior remarked as the only person in the industry who can actually "fit a sleeve so well, he's just the true master". I don't think I could justify in words why I admire Balenciaga so much - my favourite designer. His designs were structurally interesting for that time but with relatively simple style lines. I think his true genius didn't lie in his designs, but in his superior tailoring techniques, impeccable fitting and devotion to the highest of hand-crafted quality. A master in true sense, a legend in (fashion) history.

The master himself, Cristobal Balenciaga

Photographed by Richard Avedon

Featured in Vogue,  September 1950

Cristobal Balenciaga, dress c. 1952

A frilled dress by Cristobal Balenciaga

Interesting structure, a Balenciaga signature

An evening dress from Winter 1967 collection

Cristobal Balenciaga, evening dress c. 1962

In Harpers Bazaar, July 1939

A Balenciaga ensemble, circa1962

Today's Balenciaga headed by Nicolas Ghesquiere

Still the interesting structure

By current head designer, Nicolas Ghesquiere

All images sourced from Google Images