Born in 1895 in the Basque region of northern Spain, founder Cristobal Balenciaga opened his first shops in Madrid and Barcelona in 1915, and then moved to Paris during the Spanish Civil War. His Avenue George V salon quickly gained popularity among such fashion powerhouses as Carmel Snow, the celebrated editor whose famous words, "Elegance is good taste, plus a dash of daring," could have been uttered to describe Balenciaga's style exclusively. Christian Dior once referred to him as "the master of us all" for his impact on couture silhouettes in women's fashion.
His impact was far-reaching, as his protégés included Hubert de Givenchy, Andre Courreges, Emanuel Ungaro, and Oscar de la Renta. Years of training as a master tailor enabled Balenciaga to drape and fit clothing in a way no other designer could, leading to the development of his universally flattering design hallmarks - spare lines, sculptural approaches, and intriguing shapes like the funnel dress, square coat, and bubble skirt.
Balenciaga was a socialite favorite, and his designs epitomized 1950s and 1960s haute couture, especially when worn by such fashion icons as Jackie Kennedy. After he closed his salon doors in 1968, the fashion world felt the loss for decades. Now under the ownership of the Gucci Group, the house is enjoying renewed popularity with French designer Nicolas Ghesquiere leading as creative director.
Ghesquiere joined Balenciaga in 1995, with initial assignments spent designing prêt-a-porter for the Asian market. (His earlier years in the industry included stints as assistant to Jean-Paul Gaultier, freelance knitwear designer, and various jobs at several other fashion houses.) Hailed as one of our generation's most influential designers - and certainly o...