In 1936, Cristobal Balenciaga opened a fashion house in Paris, after fleeing the Spanish civil war; within a couple of seasons he had raised fashion to the level of art. Christian Dior called Balenciaga 'the master of us all', while Coco Chanel claimed that he along was 'a couturier in the truest sense of the word ... the others are simple fashion designers'. This book explores his work.
Author Biography
Susan Irvine has written on fashion and beauty for Vogue, The Sunday Telegraph, and other newspapers and magazines, and for nine years was beauty director of Conde Nast Asia Pacific. She is the author of Perfume: The Creation and Allure of Classic Fragrances and The Perfume Guide.
