Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Cristóbal Balenciaga made his name in Paris in the 1940s and 1950s in the golden age of haute couture. He was hailed by Coco Chanel as "the only true couturier among us," and his clients included Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess of Windsor.

This book is published to mark the inauguration of the Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain, which will house a permanent collection of over one hundred pieces created by this master designer. It features an extraordinary selection of the most representative pieces from the Museum's collection, and includes four essays written by specialists on Balenciaga's work.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

This book is published to commemorate the opening of the Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa in the fashion designer's hometown of Getaria in the Basque region of Spain. One of the 20th century's foremost couturiers, Balenciaga opened his couture house in Paris in 1937, during the Spanish civil war, and later reestablished branches of his business in San Sebastian, Barcelona, and Madrid in Spain. Balenciaga was admired as a perfectionist for using the highest-quality fabrics and for creating innovative designs of elegant lines and simplicity, such as the semifitted look, tunics, and sack dresses that eliminated the traditional waist. He was also influenced by traditional motifs of his native Spain, like bolero jackets and jet-black embroidery. In this beautiful book, Descalzo (communication & management in fashion, Centro Universitario Vellanueva, Madrid), Miren Arzalluz (curator & head of collections, Fundacion Cristobal Balenciaga), and Pierre Arizzoli-Clementel (former director, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris) divide the museum's collection of Balenciaga's designs by style and include a glossary and a chronology. VERDICT Recommended for anyone interested in the history of fashion.-Sandra Rothenberg, Framingham State Univ., MA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Cristobal Balenciaga Eizaguirre (1895-1972) was one of the most influential haute couture designers. His designs are known for their elegance and exceptional cut, fit, and proportions. Balenciaga's training as a tailor enabled him to excel at the technical construction of garments even as he experimented with silhouettes and fabrics. This impressive publication, the catalogue of the Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa, was published by the Fundacion Cristobal Balenciaga, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about this master designer. Written by Arizzoli-Clementel (formerly, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris), Arzalluz (Fundacion Cristobal Balenciaga), Descalzo (Centro Univ. Vellanueva, Madrid), et al., the catalogue features high quality, full-color images of numerous items from the museum's collection. The images are organized into seven categories for easy navigation of this substantial volume. Categories include early years, day, cocktail, evening, brides, essential, and accessories. Each item in the catalogue is accompanied by a short description and an explanation of its significance, both to Balenciaga's professional history and to fashion design. Included are four essays highlighting Balenciaga's history, training, creative process, and materials. This well-researched and well-designed publication will appeal to readers with an interest in haute couture and fashion history. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; general readers. C. B. Cannon Savannah College of Art and Design