Hamish BowlesBalenciaga and Spain: Spanish Master

This is not just a “fashion” book, this is an exceptional book about how culture, history and regional dress influence (high) fashion.Of course it’s for fans of Cristobal Balenciaga, but if you are interested in fashion and culture more generally this will likely still appeal as a coffee table book.To get the obvious out of the way this only covers Cristobal Balenciaga and his work, NOT any later designers for the “house” of Balenciaga.There are 6 main chapters:Spanish ArtRoyal CourtReligious LifeDanceThe BullfightRegional DressEach has an approximately two page incredibly insightful opener detailing the images that follow in the chapter, referencing everything from religious dress of Spain to Spanish customs and art and how they influenced Balenciaga and his work.The images are a mix of clothes of Balenciaga (on mannequins), clothes worn in period fashion shoots and “catwalk”, sketches, and the artist reference point (Spanish paintings, photos of Spanish clergy or people of a particular time etc).I felt I not only learnt a lot about Balenciaga but also about Spanish culture.To note that this book doesn’t only feature modern “exhibition style” photos of the clothing so if that’s mainly what you’re looking for this isn’t the book. It can also be annoying to flick back and forth between the text and the images they reference but given the cross-pollination of things and visually I suppose individual texts on pages might look cluttered (or you have to have multiple smaller pictures on one page to avoid any flicking back and forth) I can see why this decision was made.Hamish Bowles really understands fashion and Balenciaga and this book feels very academic but not at all boring and very readable and accessible.Highly recommended.

This is a book that compares Spanish social history with Balenciaga's couture, all printed beautifully. The essays are insightful and the dresses are fantastic. my only complaint is some of the comparisons are a little opportunistic. Other than that well worth a look.

fantastic book

This is a wonderful book about the great master couturier Christobal Balenciaga and his Spanish roots and influnces. The text is informative and you are almost transported to the world of Balenciaga, particularly at his Paris Couture House, where you imagine the whispers and polite exchanges in the salon, that is, if you were deemed rich and sophisticated enough, and were allowed to buy your couture there, as he was very fussy about who should be allowed to wear his beautiful creations, as one had to have a certain deportment to carry them off effectively. You can also imagine the tantrums if things did not go to plan, as he was a perfectionist and master crafts man. The people who wore his creations were often told what they should wear by him.The book also shows many outfits, from day wear through to elaborate evening gowns and hats, which is really wonderful. Many do look dated by todays standards, but you can see the beautiful attention to every tiny detail in the creation and construction of these works of art. You also see how he developed his creations, silhouttes and style over nearly four decades.I collect books on couture and this is one of the best, but as always I'm greedy and just want to see more and more of the masters work.

Fab book