The sublime work and legacy of the 'The Master' of haute couture at the V&A.
Cristóbal Balenciaga.
The Spanish couturier, also known as 'The Master', because of his superb craftsmanship and innovative use of high-quality fabrics. He dramatically changed the female classic silhouette.
Thus, Balenciaga became the pioneer of modern fashion. A mesmerizing revolution.
Victoria and Albert Museum in London opens its doors to the couturier Monsieur Cristóbal, showcasing over a hundred garments plus headpieces, in the acclaimed exhibition to honor his fashion world, named Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion.
It is the largest collection of Balenciaga in the UK and is linked to the centenary of the opening of
Balenciaga's first fashion house in San Sebastian, Spain, highlights the 80th anniversary of the opening of his fashion house in Paris, where the heart of haute couture pulses with the beat of majestic and unique creativity.
Two floors, two sections: the first floor/section is entirely dedicated to Balenciaga creations, focusing on his creative works from the 1950s to 1960s; the second part of the exhibition embraces the generations of more than thirty fashion designers who were inspired and captured by his craft and reinterpreted the couturier's world on to their creations.
When entering the room, you can breathe a sense of peace, a warm atmosphere, and your senses feel thankful for just being here.
Walking around you can explore amazing hues of colors, mesmerizing silhouettes with contemporary shapes, incredible archive fabrics samples books, famous photographs, beautiful sketches.
These revolutionary garments and unique head accessories became tremendously famous, appearing in magazines and worn by Hollywood stars and élite figures.
Balenciaga shaped fashion in a brand new way if you look back to the classic times of the 50s and 60s fashion.
Shaping Fashion explores the meaning of silhouettes and also the secrets beneath the incredible garments with an emotional project by the X-ray artist Nick Veasey and a digital pattern maker with the London College of Fashion.
And the results are breathtaking.
Stairs. Upper floor.
The second part of this exhibition focuses on works belonging to the Spanish fashion designer's former apprentices, such as André Courrèges and Emanuel Ungaro, plus more designers like Erdem, Phoebe Philo, J.W. Anderson, Molly Goddard, and of course Nicolas Ghesquière, whose works were undeniably influenced by Balenciaga creations.
This is one of the most beautiful fashion exhibitions you can experience, and V&A really knows how to make the visitor feel.
Exiting Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion you really feel complete, totally inspired and emotional on many levels.
This exhibition runs from 27 May 2017 to 18 February 2018.
If you still didn't have the chance to experience it, please follow the following instructions.
1. Book a flight to the beautiful city of London, even just to spend 24 hours. The time you need for the exhibition.
2. Check in one priority destination: V&A Museum.
A suggested exhibition.
A must-see.
Don't miss it, you will shape this memory forever.
Like Balenciaga legacy in the fashion world.
Photography credit: Alessandra Fanizzi