Starting as a modest boutique, Balenciaga evolved to transform the landscape of women’s fashion with shapes and contours during the middle of the 20th century that were nothing less than groundbreaking. Today, the brand is as venturesome as ever and is well known for its shoes, handbags, sneakers, streetwear and other clothing and accessories.
Though he was born in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain’s Basque region, Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895–1972) was destined to reshape modern fashion. As a child, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid. In 1917, he established his first haute couture house — named Eisa, for his mother — in the trendy resort town San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family.
When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937. There, Balenciaga rubbed elbows with fashion greats like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and quickly won over clients like Gloria Guinness, Pauline de Rothschild and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.
As a couturier, Balenciaga drew from his Spanish heritage for ideas, riffing on everything from matador costumes and flamenco dresses to the paintings of Diego Velázquez, whose portraits of Spanish princesses famously inspired Balenciaga’s Infanta gown.
An expert tailor, he experimented with sculptural silhouettes that didn’t follow the body. Some of his notable designs include the 1953 balloon jacket, and from 1957, the cocoon coat, the baby-doll dress and the sack dress, which he popularized with his good friend designer Hubert de Givenchy. All of these could be considered not just the masterpieces of haute couture, but also objets d’art in their own right, leading to Balenciaga’s nickname, “The Master.”
Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart S.A. in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.
The brand returned to high fashion with the arrival of designer Josephus Thimister in 1992. It has since been led by a series of creative directors who have paid homage to Balenciaga’s iconic designs, including Nicolas Ghesquière, Alexander Wang and, most recently, Demna Gvasalia. In 2011, a museum celebrating Balenciaga’s legacy opened in his hometown in Spain, commemorating where it all began.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Balenciaga crossbody bags, tote bags, day dresses, shirts and more.
BALENCIAGA Vintage Gold Tone Blue Glass Drop Dangling Earrings
By Balenciaga
Located in Nice, FR
BALENCIAGA vintage gold tone dangling earrings (clip-on) featuring a blue facetted glass drop and clear crystals. Embossed with the monogram BB PARIS. Indicative measurements : hei...
Gilt Metal
BALENCIAGA Vintage Gold Tone Green Glass Heart Dangling Earrings
By Balenciaga
Located in Nice, FR
BALENCIAGA vintage gold tone dangling earrings (clip-on) earrings featuring a green facetted glass heart drop, faux pearl and clear crystals. Embossed with the monogram BB PARIS. I...
Gilt Metal
Vintage BALENCIAGA Gilt Coral Rhinestone Dangling Earrings
By Balenciaga
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage BALENCIAGA Gilt Coral Rhinestone Dangling Earrings Measurements: Height: 2.44 inches (6.2 cm) Width: 1.97 inches (5 cm) Weight per Earring: 16 grams Features: - 100% Authentic BALENCIAGA. - Gilt coral earrings embellished with rhinestones. - Gold tone hardware. - Clip back earrings. - Signed...
Alex Jona 18 Karat Yellow Gold Dangle Pendant Earrings
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat yellow gold pendant earrings. Alex Jona jewels stand out, not only for their special design and for the excellent qualit...
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Amethyst Design Dangle Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini design collection, contemporary jewels. Handcrafted Earrings in 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Purple Amethyst . Oval cut Amethyst dangle earrings that reflect a Modern style Handcrafted in 14 Karat Yellow Gold and embellished with a deep purple Amethyst. The sculptural design provides an extra shiny surface of the disk and a subtle play of the shadow and light that remind the moon surface. You can wear the earrings every day and the piece can be ordered as a clip - on earrings. All stones have a meaning: Amethyst relieves an individual from stress and strain. By choosing a jewel from the Rossella Ugolini collection, you are not only choosing to support a unique, careful and meticulously built savoir-faire, built over years of work and artistic experimentation; by choosing the ""well-made"" by hand, you contribute to the growth and diffusion of a sector full of value, storytelling, culture and inspiration, in which Beauty plays a fundamental role: as inspirer and muse of the soul." Rossella Ugolini Jewelry Designer's collection is 100% handcrafted with loads of love in Rome. An exclusive design, enriched by the most precious metals and gems, gives shape to Rossella's daily inspirations and a lifetime passion, framed by the timeless beauty of Rome and its enchanting atmosphere. Quality comes from attention to detail. Each Rossella Ugolini's item is unique and never worn or owned before. Each box is wrapped with paper and ribbons in a color that matching the jewelry. In addiction you will find a handwritten card and a watercolor drawing of the piece. The box is seal with a wax lacquer seal . Feel free to contact us for any jewel's customization, we'll be pleased to create a one-of-a-kind piece on request for you. The strength of the collections proposed by Rossella Ugolini comes from the quality of the product, still characterized today by a strong artisan imprint and attention to detail. The company has always been faithfully linked to a Made in Italy that accompanies the jewels from the choice of the best precious stones, subjected to careful selection, up to the final packaging for which a finish aimed at a perfect fit of the jewel is always required . Today, in the Rome Atelier, we are committed to obtaining excellence from every single product. The laboratory entirely dedicated to design and handmade creations is also located in Rome. By choosing a jewel from the Rossella Ugolini collection, you are not only choosing to support a unique, careful and meticulously built savoir-faire, built over years of work and artistic experimentation; by choosing the ""well-made"" by hand, you contribute to the growth and diffusion of a sector full of value, storytelling, culture and inspiration, in which Beauty plays a fundamental role: as inspirer and muse of the soul. Details: Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Amethyst Design...
Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
Gianni Versace Medusa Rhinestone Earrings
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Snag yourself these hoops! Circa late 1980s/early 1990s, these gold plated Versace dangle earrings are embossed with the signature Medusa head and are embellished with rhinestones and fringe. Clip on closures. Pair with your favorite Versace silk shirt and black leather leggings...
Limited Edition Bold Gold Topaz Citrine Diamonds Dangle Handcrafted Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini Design Collection, these bold gold dangle pendant earrings are a limited edition piece that exudes sophistication and style. Measurements: 0.55 inch (14mm) x2.28 in...
Citrine, Brown Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, 9k ...
Galliano for Dior 2003 Fall/Winter Star Anise Earrings
By John Galliano for Christian Dior
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Show off some eye candy with these works of art by John Galliano for Dior! Circa 2003/2004 from their Fall/Winter collection, these earrings highlight influences from the Chinese and Japanese culture. Crafted from Silver and adorned with a gorgeous star anise...
Silver
Orlando Orlandini Circles Drop Earrings with Diamonds
By Orlando Orlandini
Located in Darnestown, MD
Fresh and airy interlocking circles drop earrings by Orlando Orlandini. Each is topped with a gold circle 5/8" in diameter centered with a diamond...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Rock Crystal and Twisted Gold Drop Earrings
By Christina Addison
Located in New York, NY
18kt Twisted Yellow Gold and Rock Crystal Drop Earring This elegant earring measures and inch and a half long. The top cushion is shaped Rock Crystal that measures half an inch w...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Chalcedony, Citrine, Rock Crystal, Topaz, Crystal,...
1960s William De Lillo Shell Earrings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
A beautiful pair of William de Lillo chandelier earrings with large white coral cabochons and 4 pieces of mother of pearl shell dandling from the bottom. Both pieces signed Dellio, d...
Coral
Alex Jona Floating Black Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Earrings
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat White gold Earrings suspending 2 drilled briolette cut Black Diamonds weighing 1.20 car...
Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Alex Jona Coral Pompon 18 Karat Yellow Gold Dangle Pendant Earrings
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat yellow gold dangle coral pendant earrings. Dimensions : L 1.84 in x Diameter 0.70 in - L 4.6 cm x Diameter 17.49 mm Ale...
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,706 / item
H 1.15 in W 0.36 in
Alex Jona Floating White Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant Earrings
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat yellow gold earrings, suspending two laser drilled round cut white diamonds weighing 0.46 carats in total, H color, VS2 c...
White Diamond, Yellow Gold
$5,402 / item
W 0.7 in L 1.8 in
Alex Jona Jade Diamond Blue & Pink Sapphire 18 Karat Rose Gold Dangle Earrings
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat rose gold One-of-a-Kind pendant earrings suspending two white carved Burmese Jade weighing 20.60 carats, surrounded by 12...
Diamond, Jade, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold
Balenciaga Vintage Gold Toned Ruby Glass Heart Dangling Earrings
By Balenciaga
Located in Nice, FR
BALENCIAGA vintage gold toned dangling earrings (clip-on) earrings featuring a ruby red facetted glass heart drop, faux pearl and clear crystals. Embossed with the monogram BB PARIS...
Vintage BALENCIAGA Wire Wrap Stylized Earrings
By Balenciaga
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage BALENCIAGA Wire Wrap Stylized Earrings Measurements: Height: 2.56 inches (6.5 cm) Width: 0.83 inch (2.1 cm) Weight per Earring: 15 grams Features: - 100% Authentic BALENCIAGA. - Structured earrings with wire wrapped illusion. - Gold tone. - Clip back earrings. - Signed BB...