Before you continue reading, let me clarify something: although Cristóbal Balenciaga was a man, his life and work were deeply connected to the feminine universe. So today I want to tell you his story from a different place, as if we were talking among friends about someone who, although he never designed for himself, understood women like few others have.
The beginning of a genius in a corner of Spain
Imagine a boy from a small coastal town, Getaria , watching his mother sew day and night to earn a living. That was Balenciaga’s first connection with fashion, and you know what? He was a boy who dared to dream of a bigger world. But it wasn’t easy. We’re talking about the early 20th century, when being a couturier wasn’t exactly the most common path for a young man, and even less so in Spain.
However, passion and determination know no rules. Inspired by the strength of his mother and the women around him, Balenciaga decided he wanted to dedicate his life to creating beauty for them. By the age of 12, he was already learning the trade, and soon, his talent allowed him to work with some of the most elegant women in Spain.
A constant struggle for art
What fascinates me about Balenciaga is how he fought against all odds to stay true to his vision. During the Spanish Civil War, he had to close his workshop in San Sebastian, but he didn't give up. He moved to Paris, the capital of fashion, and opened his own house in 1937. From then on, he didn't let anything or anyone dictate how he should create.
His relationship with the women he dressed was almost mystical. One of his most loyal clients, the Marchioness of Casa Torres, used to say that " Balenciaga did not make dresses; he created works of art for the body ."
But you know what was most revolutionary? He understood that a woman's power was not just in what she wore, but in how she wore it. And he designed with that in mind.
Anecdotes that make his legend great
Did you know that Balenciaga was a perfectionist to the extreme? He once had an entire dress taken apart because a seam wasn't up to his standard. And he did it himself, stitch by stitch!
Another interesting story is that he rarely attended his own fashion house's shows. He preferred to observe from the shadows, because he said that " the attention should be on the women and what they wore, not on who had made it ." It speaks of his humility, doesn't it?
And I love this: her inspiration came from such everyday things as the clothes of Basque fisherwomen or religious uniforms. She turned these simple, traditional influences into designs that dazzled the entire world. Her "Infanta" dress, for example, was a direct homage to Velázquez and Spanish history, and when she presented it in Paris, it left everyone speechless.
The legacy that lives on
Although Cristóbal Balenciaga closed his fashion house in 1968, his legacy lives on. Today, women who wear a design inspired by him, whether it's a minimalist dress or a structured piece, are wearing the essence of someone who believed in their strength and elegance.
Balenciaga left us with a lesson that goes far beyond fashion: never sacrifice who you are to fit into other people's expectations. He fought so that women could feel powerful, confident and beautiful, without compromising their authenticity.
So the next time you wear something that makes you feel unstoppable, think of him. Because in every fold and in every seam of fashion history, there is a little bit of Cristóbal Balenciaga, reminding us that true elegance begins with attitude.
And you, what attitude do you have today? 😉
