Balenciaga Printed Leather Pumps 40 FR
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 FR (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:DOUBLE BAY, AU
- Reference Number:
Balenciaga
Starting as a modest boutique, Balenciaga evolved to transform the landscape of women’s fashion with shapes and contours during the middle of the 20th century that were nothing less than groundbreaking. Today, the brand is as venturesome as ever and is well known for its shoes, handbags, sneakers, streetwear and other clothing and accessories.
Though he was born in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain’s Basque region, Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895–1972) was destined to reshape modern fashion. As a child, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid. In 1917, he established his first haute couture house — named Eisa, for his mother — in the trendy resort town San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family.
When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937. There, Balenciaga rubbed elbows with fashion greats like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and quickly won over clients like Gloria Guinness, Pauline de Rothschild and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.
As a couturier, Balenciaga drew from his Spanish heritage for ideas, riffing on everything from matador costumes and flamenco dresses to the paintings of Diego Velázquez, whose portraits of Spanish princesses famously inspired Balenciaga’s Infanta gown.
An expert tailor, he experimented with sculptural silhouettes that didn’t follow the body. Some of his notable designs include the 1953 balloon jacket, and from 1957, the cocoon coat, the baby-doll dress and the sack dress, which he popularized with his good friend designer Hubert de Givenchy. All of these could be considered not just the masterpieces of haute couture, but also objets d’art in their own right, leading to Balenciaga’s nickname, “The Master.”
Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart S.A. in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.
The brand returned to high fashion with the arrival of designer Josephus Thimister in 1992. It has since been led by a series of creative directors who have paid homage to Balenciaga’s iconic designs, including Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang and, most recently, Demna Gvasalia. In 2011, a museum celebrating Balenciaga’s legacy opened in his hometown in Spain, commemorating where it all began.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Balenciaga crossbody bags, tote bags, day dresses, shirts and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: DOUBLE BAY, Australia
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Balenciaga Black Leather Mules 39.5 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBalenciaga Black Leather Mules Crafted from soft leather with a round pointed toe, these mules are perfect for the office or an evening out with ...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Stretch Knit Knife Boot Black 36 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Stretch Knit Knife Bootie Size: 36 Fr Colour: Black Heel: 11 Cm Material: Stretch Knit: 65% Viscose, 30% Polyammide, 5% Elastan Condition: Pri...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Eiffel Tower Crystal Stretch Knit Knife Boot Black 35 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBalenciaga Eiffel Tower Crystal Stretch Knit Knife Boot Black Brand: Balenciaga Product: Eiffel Tower Crystal Stretch Knit Knife Boot Size: 35 Fr Colour: Black With Crysta...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Stretch Knit Knife Thigh High Boot Black 36 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Stretch Knit Knife Thigh High Boot Size: 36 Fr Colour: Black Heel: 11.5 Cm Shaft Height: 71 Cm Width 24 Cm Material: Stretch Knit: 65% Visco...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Velvet Stretch Knit Knife Boot Burgundy 41 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Stretch Knit Velvet Knife Boot Size: 41 Fr Colour: Burgundy Heel: 11 Cm Material: Velvet Condition: Pristine; N...Category
2010s Shoes
- Balenciaga Stretch Knit Knife Boot Red 36 FRBy BalenciagaLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Balenciaga Product: Stretch Knit Knife Bootie Size: 36 Fr Colour: Red Heel: 11 Cm Material: Stretch Knit: 65% Viscose, 30% Polyammide, 5% Elastan Condition: Prist...Category
2010s Shoes
- Giuseppe Zanotti Size 39 / 9 Gold Bronze and Brown Rhinestone Studded High HeelsBy Giuseppe ZanottiLocated in San Diego, CAGorgeous GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI bronze leather and brown rhinestone and stud encrusted high heel peep toe shoes! Features sparkly rhinestones on the front, and bronze round studs on the he...Category
2010s Italian High Heels
- Vintage Open Toe Moschino Purple Tweed Shoes with Beaded Bows Rosettes Size 37By MoschinoLocated in Portland, ORThis is a great pair of vintage Moschino purple tweed open toe shoes with beaded suede bows or rosettes and 3.5” purple suede heels. The shoes are l...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Shoes
- F/W 1999 Gucci by Tom Ford Grey Velvet 4.5" Heeled Boots Ad CampaignBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare pair of grey velvet high-heeled boots designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Fall/Winter 1999 collection. According to Ford, this collection was me...Category
1990s Italian Shoes
- Manolo Blahnik Ploiesti Snakeskin Shoes With Leopard Print ToesBy Manolo BlahnikLocated in Portland, ORThese black and grey leather snakeskin Manolo Blahniks slingbacks have leopard details and a faux "shoe clip" flap that is at the center of th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Vintage Bally Black and White Striped Pumps W Original Shoe BoxBy BallyLocated in Portland, ORWe love these vintage Bally black and white striped leather pumps with solid black heels. These fun shoes are marked a size 7N and come with their origin...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Heels
- Mint Green Escada Margaretha Ley 1980s Vintage Leather Shoes W Cutout Details 7BBy Escada, Escada Margaretha LeyLocated in Portland, ORThese fun Escada vintage 1980's shoes have unique cutouts and are in a soft mint green kid leather. The shoes are marked a size 7B and come with their original box and dust bag. The ...Category
1980s Italian Shoes