A look at the Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2011 Collection, designed by Nicolas Ghesquière. The collection features updated renditions on archival Edition pieces, like a black trapeze coat dress Cristobal Balenciaga designed for Spring 1966, his take on athletic “wellness wear” — including sneakers — and even a few lengthier hemlines. “It’s really the first time I have done that length — longer, oversize,” Ghesquiere noted.
Balenciaga is a fashion house founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Spanish designer, born in the Basque Country. He introduced couture shapes to the women’s world and was referred to as “the master of us all” by Christian Dior.
Balenciaga is now owned by the Gucci Group (PPR), and its womenswear and menswear is headed by Nicolas Ghesquière.
There was some conflict within the house of Balenciaga on Nicolas Ghesquiere’s designs. The Gucci group said that if Balenciaga didn’t become profitable within the year 2007, they would replace him.[citation needed] Ghesquière’s F/W 2005 line showed that the house was not only profitable, but also attracted a number of celebrity customers including editor-in-chief at Vogue, Anna Wintour.
The house of Balenciaga designed the dresses worn by Jennifer Connelly and Nicole Kidman to the 2006 Academy Awards, as well as the wedding gown Kidman wore for her recent marriage to Keith Urban.Kylie Minogue has also wore a Balenciaga dress for her “Slow” music video and for her concert tour.
Today, the brand is also famous for its line of motorcycle-inspired handbags, especially the famous “Lariat”. Balenciaga currently owns only two boutiques in the United States their U.S. headquarters in New York on W 22nd St. as well as a store in Honolulu. They currently are in the process of leasing a spot in the Mandarin Oriental, Boston which is to open in Summer of 2008. Balenciaga opened a boutique at the end of 2006 in Bangkok.
Balenciaga’s recent Fall/Winter show has wowed Editor in chief of Teen Vogue Amy Astley, so much that a spread in Teen Vogue named “Global Studies”, shot in Bejing, was influenced by the recent line, including skinny jodphers, tight, fitted blazers, beaded embellished scarves and other multiculti mixes.