Skip to main content

Balenciaga

Spanish

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.

Average Sold Price
$760
Related Designers
A/W 2001 Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere Black Jumpsuit with Bronze Hardware
By Balenciaga
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A/W 2001 Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere black jumpsuit with bronze tone hardware. Turtleneck long sleeve jumpsuit with front snap closures and buckle closures at neck and waist, wi...
Category

Early 2000s Balenciaga

Balenciaga Work Leather Tote Bag
By Balenciaga
Located in London, GB
  • Balenciaga Work Leather Tote Bag.
  • Purple.
  • Zip fastening - Top.
  • Does not come with - dustbag or box.
  • Model: Work.
  • Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Balenciaga

BALENCIAGA Vieux Rose pink distressed leather MOTORCYCLE WORK Bag
By Balenciaga
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Balenciaga Motorcycle Work bag in pale pink distressed leather with antique gunmetal finish hardware and one front zipper pocket. Opens with a zipper on top. Lined in ...
Category

2010s Italian Balenciaga

Balenciaga Tortoise Ski Rectangle Sunglasses
By Balenciaga
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Color: Brown / Tortoise Item Code: BB0003S 006 Size Stamp: 99 ☐ 01 140 Frame Material: Acetate Measures~ Arms: 140 mm Lens width: 99 mm Bridge: 01 mm Condition: Frame & lens show f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Balenciaga

Balenciaga Wraparound-frame Silver Sunglasses
By Balenciaga
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Color: Silver Item Code: BB0157S 002 Size Stamp: 62 ☐ 17 128 Frame Material: Acetate Measures~ Arms: 128 mm Lens width: 62 mm Bridge: 17 mm Condition: Frame & lens show faint scra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Balenciaga

Balenciaga Red Houndstooth BB Mules (EU 39)
By Balenciaga
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Color: Red Material: fabric Style No. 548882 Size: 39 EU / 8 US Heel Height: 57 mm / 2.5” Condition: Very good. Slight scuffs at outsoles. Marks and indentations to undersells. Com...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Balenciaga

Balenciaga Croc Embossed Grafitti Hourglass Bordeaux Handbag XS
By Balenciaga
Located in Montreal, Quebec
This handbag is made of crocodile embossed burgundy calfskin leather with a white graffiti print overlay. The bag features a sturdy leather top handle with silver links, a prominent ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Balenciaga

Balenciaga Dynasty Bb Rectangle Acetate Neon Yellow Sunglasses
By Balenciaga
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Balenciaga's Dynasty sunglasses feature a D-frame shape with hidden hinges within the shiny silver BB logo, lasered logo on the right lens. Color: Yellow Item Code: BB0095S 007 Size...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Balenciaga

Browse all Fashion from Balenciaga
Shop Now

Designers Similar to Balenciaga

Balenciaga fashion for sale on 1stDibs.

Find an extraordinary range of authentic Balenciaga fashion available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of blue, red, purple and other tones. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Saint Laurent , Fendi, and Valentino appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Balenciaga fashion from top boutiques around the world. Balenciaga fashion prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $34,672, while the average work can sell for $630.
Questions About Balenciaga
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The weight of a Balenciaga Triple S sneaker depends on the size of the shoe. On average, sneakers typically weigh in the one to two-pound range. Balenciaga Triple S sneakers are on the heavier side, but each shoe still comes in at around two pounds. Of course, the larger the shoe is, the more materials are needed so the shoe will be heavier, and vice versa. You’ll find a variety of Balenciaga shoes from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Balenciaga is a well-known luxury fashion house from Spain. The name Balenciaga comes directly from the founder Cristóbal Balenciaga. While the designer no longer owns the brand and has passed away, his legacy lives on in fresh designs inspired by his creativity and vision. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga haute couture from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To clean your Balenciaga handbag you’ll want to start by wiping it down with a soft flannel cloth. Test a small amount of leather cleaner in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn’t harm or discolor the leather. If everything looks good, begin to wipe the cleaner over all the leather in a small, circular motion. Then buff the bag with a soft dry cloth and allow it to dry for several hours, keeping it out of direct sunlight. You may opt to use a conditioning cream to finish the process, but only if the care instructions for your bag recommend this. Always check with the care instructions for specific information. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Some are. In general, Balenciaga’s most expensive, top-shelf bags are made in Italy, while its less-expensive offerings are typically made in China. You can find the origin of a Balenciaga bag on the brand’s website. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of Balenciaga pieces from top sellers worldwide.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Some are. The clothing company creates clothes and shoes that are suitable for both men and women, but they also make men’s and women’s clothing. On 1stDibs, you'll find a wide variety of Balenciaga pieces from top sellers across the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, Balenciaga does not have a repair service for their bags. That said, if you can prove you purchased the bag through one of their authorized retailers or from one of their boutiques directly, then you may be able to get a repair. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Balenciaga uses Utah Condensed Bold font for its logo. This sans serif font is simple and bold, inspired by public transport letting. In 2017, the brand slightly changed the lettering by moving them closer together. On 1stDibs, find vintage and modern Balenciaga pieces from top sellers worldwide.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    You can purchase Balenciaga shoes from the brand’s website as well as a variety of online and brick and mortar boutiques and luxury department stores. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga footwear from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In 2019, Balenciaga introduced its very first line of sunglasses. This line is manufactured exclusively by Kering Eyewear. Kering is the owner of several high-end fashion houses, including Balenciaga. Today Balenciaga has moved further into the eyewear category and also has prescription glasses along with sunglasses. Find Balenciaga sunglasses and other accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Balenciaga is so expensive because it's one of the world's top fashion houses. Its cult status among celebrities in addition to its handmade production are two factors that contribute to Balenciaga pieces being so expensive.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    There are a few options for refurbishing a Balenciaga bag. If the bag was purchased from Balenciaga or one of their retail partners and you can provide the original receipt, they will do the refurbishing for you, although there will probably be a cost to this. Another option is finding a leatherworker who you trust to do the work. Finally, you might want to try doing the refurbishing yourself. Find vintage and contemporary Balenciaga bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Balenciaga has many retail partners across the globe, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Harrods, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. In addition to being able to find this label in the physical stores themselves, many stores carry them online. It’s important to purchase from a vetted seller or vendor to ensure authenticity. While Balenciaga has at times inspired knockoffs, 1stDibs partners with only expertly-vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    It depends. Many of Balenciaga’s athletic shoe designs are meant to wear for fashion, not for working out. But the brand’s 2018 Track Trainer was made with walking, hiking, and running in mind and features extra cushioning for top comfort. Browse a collection of Balenciaga sneakers and trainers on 1stDibs from trusted sellers worldwide.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, the boutique staff at Balenciaga stores and their retail partner stores are not trained to authenticate a Balenciaga bag. Always purchase Balenciaga bags from reputable sellers to ensure authenticity. Shop a large collection of Balenciaga bags from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Fitting a MacBook into a Balenciaga City Bag all depends on the size of the MacBook and the size of the bag. Users have reported that the large or original sized City Bag with a width of 15” will fit a 13” MacBook. The other City Bags are too small and any larger MacBook would be too big. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses, including the City Bag from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, not all Balenciaga bags come with a mirror, but the majority do. The mirror is typically attached to the handle and stored inside the external pocket. The mirror should already be attached and not separately wrapped. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, new Balenciaga handbags come with a storage bag and a box. Part of the fun of getting a new Balenciaga bag is unboxing it for the very first time. Many owners of Balenciaga bags and other luxury handbags like to keep their boxes for added protection when storing. Shop a collection of authentic Balenciaga purses from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To keep your Balenciaga bag in pristine condition, store it in its flannel bag or wrap it in another soft fabric. Don’t cover it with plastic, which can trap moisture. Keep the bag stored in a dry place out of direct sunlight. Wipe the bag with a dry cloth before you store it. On 1stDibs, Find vintage and modern Balenciaga bags from trusted sellers worldwide.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To polish your Balenciaga leather bag, looking top-notch with these easy tips. Place a small amount of a high quality leather cleaner on a shine cloth, and gently wipe the leather in a circular motion. Buff with a horsehair brush, and let it dry for three hours before you use it. Find authentic Balenciaga bags on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Since Balenciaga bags are one of the most-copied, they’re difficult to authenticate, so it’s best to take the bag to an appraiser. A tell-tale sign a bag is fake is mismatched style numbers on the front and back tags — these should match if the bag is real. Additionally, an authentic bag will feature the Lampo logo with sleek, not thick, lines. On 1stDibs, shop expertly authenticated Balenciaga handbags from top sellers around the world.

Recently Viewed

View All