Cristóbal Balenciaga

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Cristóbal Balenciaga Eisaguirre (Getaria, Basque Country, Spain, January 21, 1895 – March 23, 1972, Valencia, Spain) was a Spanish-basque fashion designer.

He opened his Paris couture house on avenue George V in August 1937. Carmel Snow, the editor of Harper's Bazaar was an early champion of his designs.

His often spare, sculptural creations—including funnel-shape gowns of stiff duchess satin worn to acclaim by clients such as Pauline de Rothschild, Bunny Mellon, Marella Agnelli, Gloria Guinness and Mona von Bismarck—were considered masterworks of haute couture in the 1950s and 1960s. Hubert de Givenchy was his protégé. He closed his house in 1968 after being disillusioned with the advent of pret-a-porter, which was being introduced by the French.

John F. Kennedy was famously upset with Jackie Kennedy for buying Balenciaga's expensive creations while he was President for fear that the American public might think the purchases too lavish. Her haute couture bills were eventually discreetly paid by her father-in-law, Joseph Kennedy.

He taught fashion design classes, inspiring other designers such as Oscar de la Renta. Today the Balenciaga fashion house is still going under the direction of Nicolas Ghesquière and under the ownership of the Gucci Group.