Balenciaga;

“Balenciaga is fashion’s Picasso.”—Cecil Beaton

More than three decades after his death, the Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga (1895–1972) has become a legendary figure in the history of 20th-century fashion. His name is now synonymous with clothes made to the highest standards and characterized by their sculptural quality, deft manipulation of textiles, and dramatic use of color. This absorbing new book, with breathtaking illustrations, examines Balenciaga’s design and business and places him firmly in the context of the time and country in which he learned his trade—and the international fashion scene in which he subsequently matured and triumphed.

This stunning book is published to accompany The Golden Age of Couture, a major exhibition opening at the V&A in September 2007.