1950s Cristobal Balenciaga Haute Couture Dress

The Balenciaga Haute Couture atelier opened in 1937, closed briefly from 1940 -1945 and then reopened until Cristobal's retirement in 1968. The label continued under a licensing agreement, not as a Haute Couture house, until 1986 and closed again until 1987 when it was bought as a ready to wear label and the present day Balenciaga shops appeared in 1989. Though the label has been revived and is doing well in the present day,it is important to note that the current Balenciaga label is not a member of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris and the house only produced Haute Couture during the years above. A very short time period.

This is a lovely example from the 1950s made of a hand made lace and entirely done by hand for the construction as well. It has the Haute Couture label and is numbered as well. I have reached out the the archives and if I can get an exact date I will add it or send that information to the new owner. The exterior is a silk net lace with a black silk cording hand applied through the net to create the suggestions of blossoms running over the surface. This top layer skims over an inner sheath of fine black silk and under that is a highly structured foundation garment. The interior corseting has all the things one looks for from couture of this time period. It is boned by hand with a complicated construction of lingerie weight elasticized fabric combined with built in cups that are covered in a silk net and silk for comfort. This interior corset closes with a series of lingerie hooks and they have even added a panel of soft silk velvet that is placed under the hooks and against your skin so you do not feel the hooks at all. Examples of his work are held in museums world wide and it is a fabulous opportunity to offer this dress here today. Excellent condition.

In the present world of Haute Couture, a day dress starts at a price tag of $30,000US dollars and a cocktail dress would go up from there. You also get the added exclusivity that automatically comes with the rarefied world of true Haute Couture and the truly limited productions of each piece, especially when the label is one of the true masters of Couture as this is. Haute Couture is the very pinnacle of the fashion experience and I would hazard to say that vintage versions are even a little more special then modern ones.

Fully lined in a black high grade silk with a full interior, built in corset. It is completely made by hand as the parameters of Haute Couture dictates. It closes with a side handset, fine painted metal zipper and the interior corset closes at the side with a series of lingerie hooks. Over both of these the lace exterior closes with a series of handset snaps. Haute Couture number 90903 though it looks like there might be one other faint number before the first 9. Note that in person the color is a true black. It is even better in person!

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36" from top of front bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2069

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.