Cristóbal Balenciaga

Cristóbal Balenciaga was born in Guetaria, a small village in the north coast of Spain, in 1895. During his childhood her mother, who was a seamstress, instill him the love for fashion. In his teens he was sent to Madrid to learn tailoring. A few years later his clothes were so successful that he was able to open boutiques in Madrid, Barcelona and San Sebastián (were the royal family used to spend their holidays). But the tragedy of the Civil War forced him to move to Paris. In 1937 he staged his first runway show influenced by the Spanish Renaissance. The World War II didn't stop him. Clients all over the world were dying to get their hands on his designs.

Needless to say he was a brave man: Balenciaga opposed to the popular silhouette known as New Look, and created streamlined and linear clothing. And that's probably his most important contribution to fashion.

In 1953, he introduced the balloon jacket, an elegant sphere that encased the upper body and provided a pedestal for the wearer's head.

In 1957 came the creation of his high-waisted baby doll dress, the gracefully draped cocoon coat, and the balloon skirt, shown as a single pouf or doubled, one pouf on top of the other. Neither the sack dress, introduced in 1957, nor the chemise of 1958 had a discernible waist, but both were considered universally flattering and were copied by a large number of ready-to-wear manufacturers at every price range.

1964

Wedding dress, 1965-1966

Cristóbal Balenciaga's career ended in 1968 when his salon closed. He died in Spain in 1972, but his innovative sense of fashion is (and always will be) still alive.

Sources: MET museum, The fashion spot.

Target

I am trying to achieve a more sophisticated and chicer style. Something like this:

----------------------------------------------------------

Dok: Lagerfeld Confidential

Two nights ago, I watched a documentary about Karl Lagerfeld on TV. Worth to see if you have Canal +. If not, you can watch a few clips here: plus.es

The documentary explores Karl's personality: his life, his obsessions and his work for Chanel. He even talks about his sexuality.

In my opinion two words define the Kaiser: intelligence and eccentricity (he owns tons of rings, and at least two drawers full of shirt collars). What I like most about him, is that he always stays true to himself.

This probably will be my last post until the end of June. Final terms...

Sophie Auster

The beautiful Sophie, is the daughter of writers Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt. She was born in 1987, and two years ago, her first CD was released. She sings her father's works and the translated poetry of Robert Desnos, Guillaume Apollinaire,Paul Eluard, Tristan Tzara and Philippe Soupault. The younger Auster is not only a singer but also and actress. Sophie stars his dad's next film: The Inner Life of Martin Frost.

Her style is simple and clean. I suppose I like it, because, it's my style too. She wears: jeans, Ray-Ban aviators, military jackets, skinnies, tailored waistcoats,etc...

If you haven't listened to her music yet, do it. Her voice is so powerful and charming.

D&G vs. Spanish fashion

Weeks ago, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana removed their publicity from the Spanish press. Everything started with a polemic pic in which a half naked man holds a woman lying on the floor. In a country where violence against women is a big problem (68 died last year), the photograph turned into a subject of controversy. Several women's associations interpreted it as a rape scene. They claimed the advert uses violence as a form of submission, and reduces women to a mere sexual object.

The designers reacted saying that Spain had fell behind and declaring Spanish fashion is shit.

I don't think Spanish fashion is neither special nor original . But it is not shit.

Check it yourself.

Juanjo Oliva

Carmen March

DavídDelfín.

Juana Martín

"The world is full of crashing bores"

The June issue of Spanish Vogue features an article about "it" bags. It is basically an interview with Silvia Fendi, in which she explains how Fendi started the phenomena of "it" bags back in 1997 with the launch of the "Baguette".

"It" bags mean to me lack of originality. The only ones I really like are Balenciaga bags, and they are becoming a classic.

There are tons of functional and chic bags, so why choose a purse (real or fake) that everybody has ?

Antisystem people come with me ( just kidding...)

Martin Margiela via Aloha Rag Mayle via La Garçonne