Cristóbal Balenciaga's Lost Legacy

 As an indisputable couturier of uncompromising standards, Cristóbal Balenciaga radically altered the traditional silhouettes of women's dress. The fluidity of his designs and his ultra-modern shapes enabled him to manipulate the relationship between his clothing and a woman’s body, creating a new silhouette unlike anything the world had seen before. He was respected throughout the fashion world for his knowledge of technique and construction and his unflinching perfectionism—Christian Dior even referred to Balenciaga as the master of us all. With structural designs that straddle the edge of fashion, Balenciaga cemented his brand as a staple fashion house that forecasted, and continues to forecast, prêt-á-porter fashion for years to come.

While the fashion house is currently experiencing a revitalization under the helm of Demna Gvasalia, elements of Balenciaga's forgotten legacy are becoming once again relevant. The lines between high-fashion and streetwear may continue to fluctuate, but Balenciaga's unyielding design prestige is not to be ignored in the wake of luxe puffers, bejeweled heels, and reconstructed denim jackets.

BY GUNNER PARK