BALENCIAGA black silk TEXTURED RUFFLED HEM MINI Dress 36 XS
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- 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: Zürich, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- BALENCIAGA black cotton 3/4 SLEEVE SHEATH Dress 40 MBy BalenciagaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Balenciaga 3/4-sleeve sheath dress in black cotton (88%) and silk (12%). With two pleated train flaps on the back of the skirt. Closes with hook and invisible zipper o...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- CHANEL black silk 2007 07A SATIN TRIM Short Sleeve Cocktail Dress 36 XSBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel short sleeve dress in black silk (with 7% elastane) with details in satin. Opens with a hidden zipper on the front. Lin...Category
Early 2000s Casual Dresses
- CHANEL black silk 2006 06P LUREX LACE TRIM LAYERED Cocktail Dress 38 SBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel cocktail dress in black silk (100%) with lace details. Closes with zipper and buttons and bow on the back. Lined in silk (100%). Has been worn and is in excelle...Category
Early 2000s Casual Dresses
- ERDEM blue pink silk 2020 FINNETTA FLORAL Shift Dress 8 XSBy ErdemLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Erdem 'Finnetta' belted floral print dress in black, pink, dusty rose, navy, blue and off-white silk (100%). Features long raglan sleeves (sleeve measurements taken fr...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Casual Dresses
- LOUIS VUITTON black BI MATERIAL KNIT DOWN Dress w RIBBED WAIST SBy Louis VuittonLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Louis Vuitton bi-material dress with a knit top in black polyamide (100%) and a technical fabric skirt in matte black, white and honey ...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- ERDEM black 2016 black viscose REIKO CROCHET FLARED Dress 12 MBy ErdemLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Erdem 2016 crochet paneled dress in black viscose (72%), polyamide (23%) and elastane (5%). Opens with a zipper on the back. Unlined. Has been worn and is in excellent...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Casual Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gucci by Tom Ford Knit Hook Closure Runway Black Knit Dress SetBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a slinky hook and eye closure accented sweater dress set designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2002 collection. This set debuted as look number 23 on Erin Wasson on the Spring/Summer 2002 runway and was seen on Debra Messing at the 2002 Screen Actor's Guild Awards and in the March 2002 issue of L'Uomo Vogue...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 1991 Gianni Versace Couture Runway Black Stretch Bouclé Wool Mini Dress LBDBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a runway-ready little black dress designed by Gianni Versace for his iconic Fall/Winter 1991 collection. This piece debuted as runway look number 27 on Marpessa Hennink an...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Red, Black, & Ivory Cotton Sleeveless Tribal Print Dress - 8By Oscar De La RentaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLOscar de la Renta Red, Black, & Ivory Cotton Sleeveless Tribal Print Dress - 8. This adorable Oscar dress is in excellent condition. It features a lovely red, black, and ivory cott...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Chanel 1980's Navy Cotton Cinched Waist Jacket Skirt Suit - Size 38By ChanelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLChanel Navy Cotton Jacket and Skirt Suit with Cinched Waist - Size 38 - 1980's. This set is a very unique Chanel look and truly a collectible piece. The straight skirt has a a waistb...Category
1980s French Skirt Suits
- Vicky Tiel Eggplant Pleated Taffeta and Lace Dress - 46 - 1980'sBy Vicky TielLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Vicky Tiel dress is a stunning vintage piece with pleated silk taffeta on the skirt and sleeves. The bodice has lace and the bust has ruched fabric. The dress also has boning on...Category
1980s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Chanel Black Dress with Silk Chiffon Top and Tweed Skirt - 38By ChanelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Chanel dress features a black silk chiffon sleeveless top and a black tweed skirt. The skirt has pockets and has a Chanel logo detail on it. This dress is in excellent condition...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses