28 FASHION
century fashion based on formal simplicity and interpreted by Balenciaga in different ways . The tunic line is complemented by a line of bloused back ensembles characteristic of his production during the same period .
The lighter weight of the cocktail fabrics reveals a fundamental feature of Balenciaga ’ s creations , common to Parisian haute couture : the delicacy of the interior finishes .
Balenciaga ’ s creations are completed with very careful finishes according to the standards of haute couture , and almost always hidden under the lining of the garment .
The last room shows the majestic volumes and richness of fabrics and ornaments so typical of the Master of haute couture , reflecting the interior air of the wraps , which add that quality of “ floating ” inside the dress in movement and which Richard Martin , Director of the Fashion Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York between 1973 and 1999 , described as follows :
Balenciaga ’ s evocation of “ a walking dream ” is the definitive testimony to his commitment to the perfect form , not realised on models , ideas or static figures , but with full recognition of the body ’ s function and floating within the excellent cut of the dress .
The Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum opened on 7 June 2011 and is located in Getaria , the couturier ’ s birthplace and the scene of his formative years and professional maturity , essential for understanding his contribution to the world of fashion .
With the aim of raising awareness of Balenciaga ’ s life and work , his relevance in the history of fashion and design , and the contemporaneity of his legacy , the Museum houses a unique collection . Its size , with over 3,500 pieces
in a collection that continues to grow thanks to deposits and donations , and its formal and chronological extension , including , for example , the couturier ’ s earliest surviving models , make it one of the most complete , coherent and interesting collections .
Another exceptional value of the collection lies in the sources of the pieces . Not in vain were Balenciaga ’ s major international clients prominent social figures in the middle of the 20th century : Mona Von Bismarck , Rachel L . Mellon , Patricia López Wilshaw , Barbara Hutton , Lilian Baels , Grace Kelly and Madame Bricard wore some of the models kept in the archives .
www . cristobalbalenciagamuseoa . com
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 62 2024