After A Fashion: A Hat by Balenciaga, c. 1960

Hat of Woven Green Straw
Balenciaga, c. 1960
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made circa 1960, this attractive hat of woven green straw is trimmed with a pin which has a bobble on each end. The unlined headwear features a hatband with a grosgrain back and green velvet front.

The hat was made in Paris, France, and is the work of the famed designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, (1895 – 1972). It’s part of the collection of Mrs. Fern Bedaux—the extremely wealthy widow of an American multimillionaire office systems pioneer, Charles Bedaux--whose beautiful clothing was given to the V&A by her niece and heiress Miss E Hanley. Mrs. Bedaux always celebrated for her fashion sense, purchased her entire wardrobe regularly from Balenciaga, amassing an unrivaled collection of the designer’s work.

History's Runway: The Weisweiller Balenciaga Gown, 1960

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The Victoria & Albert Museum

In 1960, Madame Alec Weisweiller commissioned Balenciaga, her favorite couturier,  to design a special one-off gown for the 18th birthday party of her daughter (who was also exclusively dressed by Balenciaga). Both of the Weisweiller ladies were considered quite the Parisian personalities and were especially close with both Balenciaga and Cocteau.

The gown is unique in that Balenciaga, who favored linear shapes, bold colors and embroidery, has veered from these ideals to create a more youthful piece in pale pink organza and delicate floral patterns which lean more toward Dior than the usual Balenciaga look.  

This evening dress boasts a fichu-like collar which encircles the shoulders and crosses over at the front to attach to the bodice with hooks and eyes.  One side is adorned with a pink organza bow. Embroidery of cream lace florets, ribbon-work pink and green flowers with colored silks, and with white and pearl colored beads decorates the collar and the upper third of the skirt. 

Originally, a satin ribbon was worn at the waist.  This is now lost.  the ribbon would have served to hide the waist seam.  

Serious Style: A Balenciaga “Balloon” Evening Dress, 1950

Balloon Gown
Balenciaga, 1953-1954
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the 1950s, high society ladies were intrigued with the designs of Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) who offered up a collection of sumptuous and theatrical evening gowns of silk taffeta which were inspired by dramatic drapery and flounces.

Here’s one of them. Designed by Balenciaga in Paris between 1953 and 1954, this gown of cerise silk taffeta features a bouffant back which offers an extravagant contrast to the simple lines of the v-neck front of the sleeveless sheath. A slit at the center of the tapered, narrow skirt allows the wearer a greater range of motion.

The back of the dress is composed of swathed flounces over doubled tiers of triangularly-cut taffeta. These layers are wired to help them retain their shape even after the wearer has been sitting.

Lined with chiffon, the dress fastens with a metal zip and a row of covered buttons at the reverse of the boned and padded bodice.

Balenciaga nicknamed this gown the “Balloon Dress.” It’s one of two which were made that season. The other is crafted of pale blue silk taffeta. This style nodded at the scale and extravagance of historical dress while keeping a modern silhouette and demonstrated a penchant for Nineteenth-Century designs which Balenciaga shared with Dior. By the 1960s, however, Balenciaga had transitioned to simpler designs.

Fans of FX's "American Horror Story," may be put in mind of the "Coven" character "Myrtle Snow" and her famous last word.  As Myrtle is bravely burned at the stake for a second time (this time voluntarily), the fashionista-spell-caster shouts, "Balenciaga" whilst wearing a red gown which is certainly an intentional nod to the designer's brilliant cherry works of this era.

Pardon the loop of "Balenciaga" on this video before Myrtle is...uh... enflamed, but it was the only clip available.

History's Runway: A Balenciaga Evening Dress, 1955

Gown of Yellow Satin, Embroidered
Balenciaga, 1955
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A masterpiece of yellow satin, this gown is embroidered with matching silk thread and gold pailletes (spangles).  It is lined with a matching chiffon with a separate, inner-lining of white silk.

Designed in Paris by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) in 1955, the dress features  a strapless, boned bodice joined to a skirt which has been tightly gathered at the back in the center as was the style of the time. A bustle effect is achieved with a series of ruffles.

This gown was worn (with matching gloves) by one Mrs. Fern Bedaux who famously always kept several elegant dresses with her at all times, just in case she was invited to a grand party.  Mrs. Bedaux purchased her entire wardrobe from Balenciaga, amassing a huge collection of his gowns.  Bedaux-an extremely wealthy widow of American millionaire office systems pioneer Charles Bedaux, lived at the Sixteenth Century Chateau de Cand in France where the Duke of Windsor was married after the Abdication Kerfuffle ™ of 1936.

A documentary film was produced about Mrs. Bedaux.  Entitled "The Champagne Safari,” it follows the Bedauxs on their famous expedition through Canada. It also revealed that Charles Bedaux had some ties with the Nazi party—not surprising given his association with Wallis Simpson and the former King Edward VIII. 

If you want to be as fashionable as Mrs. Bedaux without the Balenciaga price tag and Nazi ties, you might want to visit our online store and take a look at our always-stylish, exclusive designs.  

History's Runway: A Hat by Balenciaga, c. 1960

Hat of Woven Green Straw
Balenciaga, c. 1960
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made circa 1960, this attractive hat of woven green straw is trimmed with a pin which has a bobble on each end. The unlined headwear features a hatband with a grosgrain back and green velvet front.

The hat was made in Paris, France, and is the work of the famed designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, (1895 – 1972). It’s part of the collection of Mrs. Fern Bedaux—the extremely wealthy widow of an American multimillionaire office systems pioneer, Charles Bedaux--whose beautiful clothing was given to the V&A by her niece and heiress Miss E Hanley. Mrs. Bedaux always celebrated for her fashion sense, purchased her entire wardrobe regularly from Balenciaga, amassing an unrivaled collection of the designer’s work.

History's Runway: A Balenciaga “Balloon” Evening Dress, 1950

Balloon Gown
Balenciaga, 1953-1954
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the 1950s, high society ladies were intrigued with the designs of Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) who offered up a collection of sumptuous and theatrical evening gowns of silk taffeta which were inspired by dramatic drapery and flounces.

Here’s one of them. Designed by Balenciaga in Paris between 1953 and 1954, this gown of cerise silk taffeta features a bouffant back which offers an extravagant contrast to the simple lines of the v-neck front of the sleeveless sheath. A slit at the center of the tapered, narrow skirt allows the wearer a greater range of motion.

The back of the dress is composed of swathed flounces over doubled tiers of triangularly-cut taffeta. These layers are wired to help them retain their shape even after the wearer has been sitting.

Lined with chiffon, the dress fastens with a metal zip and a row of covered buttons at the reverse of the boned and padded bodice.

Balenciaga nicknamed this gown the “Balloon Dress.” It’s one of two which were made that season. The other is crafted of pale blue silk taffeta. This style nodded at the scale and extravagance of historical dress while keeping a modern silhouette and demonstrated a penchant for Nineteenth-Century designs which Balenciaga shared with Dior. By the 1960s, however, Balenciaga had transitioned to simpler designs.

History's Runway: A Hat by Balenciaga, c. 1960

Hat of Woven Green Straw
Balenciaga, c. 1960
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made circa 1960, this attractive hat of woven green straw is trimmed with a pin which has a bobble on each end. The unlined headwear features a hatband with a grosgrain back and green velvet front.

The hat was made in Paris, France, and is the work of the famed designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, (1895 – 1972). It’s part of the collection of Mrs. Fern Bedaux—the extremely wealthy widow of an American multimillionaire office systems pioneer, Charles Bedaux--whose beautiful clothing was given to the V&A by her niece and heiress Miss E Hanley. Mrs. Bedaux always celebrated for her fashion sense, purchased her entire wardrobe regularly from Balenciaga, amassing an unrivaled collection of the designer’s work.

History's Runway: A Balenciaga Evening Outfit, 1959

Evening Ensemble
Balenciaga, 1959
The Cecil Beaton Collection
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This 1959 evening outfit consists of an elegant dress and accessories by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895 -1972). The sleeveless evening dress is embroidered with silver strips, pastes and sequins and features a low round neck and a long skirt which is gathered at the waist.

The outfit is completed by a matching bag with a square flap and double handles, a handkerchief of lace with the monogram “CFB,” and a pair of court shoes of matching silk with high stiletto heels, pointed toes and paste decorations on the toes. Evening gloves of elasticized satin finish the look. All but the shoes which were made in New York were constructed in Paris by Balenciaga. The group is now part of the Cecil Beaton Collection at the V&A. 

History's Runway: A Balenciaga Evening Dress, 1955

Gown of Yellow Satin, Embroidered
Balenciaga, 1955
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A masterpiece of yellow satin, this gown is embroidered with matching silk thread and gold pailletes (spangles).  It is lined with a matching chiffon with a separate, inner-lining of white silk.

Designed in Paris by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) in 1955, the dress features  a strapless, boned bodice joined to a skirt which has been tightly gathered at the back in the center as was the style of the time. A bustle effect is achieved with a series of ruffles.

This gown was worn (with matching gloves) by one Mrs. Fern Bedaux who famously always kept several elegant dresses with her at all times, just in case she was invited to a grand party.  Mrs. Bedaux purchased her entire wardrobe from Balenciaga, amassing a huge collection of his gowns.  Bedaux-an extremely wealthy widow of American millionaire office systems pioneer Charles Bedaux, lived at the Sixteenth Century Chateau de Cand in France where the Duke of Windsor was married after the Abdication Kerfuffle ™ of 1936.

A documentary film was produced about Mrs. Bedaux.  Entitled "The Champagne Safari,” it follows the Bedauxs on their famous expedition through Canada. It also revealed that Charles Bedaux had some ties with the Nazi party—not surprising given his association with Wallis Simpson and the former King Edward VIII. 

If you want to be as fashionable as Mrs. Bedaux without the Balenciaga price tag and Nazi ties, you might want to visit our online store and take a look at our always-stylish, exclusive designs.