Balenciaga Unveils Porcelain Couture Figurines and a Candle

The legendary French couture Maison, which has thrust itself into the limelight in recent seasons – thanks to creative director Demna – presented unusual products for the latest Couture Fashion Week.

It’s an extraordinary collaboration presented in the wake of the latest couture show. Balenciaga is setting up its own couture store on Avenue George V in Paris. With specially developed products sold exclusively at the historic location of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s salon, the French Maison is giving itself a new direction. Or perhaps that of the entire industry? After all, it has always been a problem to make couture accessible to those who don’t have an unlimited fashion budget.

Among the first limited-edition pieces from the Balenciaga Objects Line are handmade porcelain figurines that are modeled on the original looks of Balenciaga couture, and a candle.

The figurines are the ones we have seen on the catwalk with models Aki Nummela and Minttu Vesala in their outfits from the 50th Couture collection. They were made purely by hand at Porzellanmanufaktur Nymphenburg near Munich. The manufactory, founded in 1747, is one of the few remaining porcelain makers in the world where porcelain is still made purely by hand. This process includes meticulous hand-painting in a historic master workshop overlooking Nymphenburg Castle.

The limited-edition Balenciaga Couture figurines replicate on a small scale the exact look dictated by a number card that each model holds in their miniaturized hands, with the same attention to detail as the artistic creations they represent. 

Next up in the objects line is a minimalist candle that comes in a round mirror-polished silver tin. With notes of burnt incense, old paper, tobacco smoke, tanned leather, aged wool, oak and more, the aroma channels Balenciaga’s Couture heritage and its subsequent re-emergence. Additionally, the refillable candle comes in two sizes.

Both the limited-edition porcelain couture figurines and the candle are available now for purchase at Balenciaga’s Couture store located at 10 Avenue George V in Paris. Come into the beautiful world of Balenciaga.

Balenciaga Opens Its First Haute Couture Boutique In Paris

Balenciaga opens its first Haute Couture boutique in Paris. Located at 10 Avenue George V, the new Balenciaga boutique will house Haute Couture designs designed by Demna Gvasalia.

This is a very important location for the French fashion house, as it is the exact spot where its founder Cristóbal Balenciaga opened his first shop in France. It was in 1937, when the Civil War broke out in Spain and he took refuge in the neighbouring country. But this new enclave will not only house the Haute Couture collection (produced only to order); it will also make special collections and customisable items available to the public.

The concept of this boutique is a gateway to Haute Couture, which remains a very closed universe, especially for the younger generations.

Cédric Charbit, CEO of Balenciaga.

A space divided into two floors organised by categories: textiles, accessories and other objects. The aim is to bring Haute Couture to the younger generations. The presentation of the 51st Haute Couture Collection designed by Demna will be held on 6 July at 12 in Paris.

Balenciaga
10 Avenue George V
Paris, Franse

Oscar de la Renta Bella Blanca

 

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Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo known professionally as Oscar de la Renta, was a Dominican fashion designer, who was trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo. De la Renta became internationally known in the 1960s as one of the couturiers who dressed Jacqueline Kennedy. An award-winning designer, who worked for Balmain and Lanvin. His eponymous fashion house continues to dress leading figures, from film stars to royalty. Sadly Oscar de la Renta died of complications from cancer on October 20, 2014, at his home in Kent, but his lagacy is still alive…..

The garden is probably the most pure and spiritual of joys – a communion with nature and beauty in their most simple and fundamental forms.

Oscar de la Renta

This winter fashion house Oscar de la Renta introduces a new perfume for women simply named Bella Blanca, yet with a prominent and calming floral aroma. The simple white and pure design, as well as sensual fragrance ideally, portrays the Oscar de La Renta woman. Because Oscar de la Renta isn’t among us, the fashion house is owned and run by the famous Inter-parfums company. They announce the new perfume as being the pureness and the spirit of joys that are found in the simple things.

Top notes: Pear, Lily of the Valley, Green notes
Heart: Orange blossom, Jasmine, Tuberose, Roses
Base: Iris, Musk, Sandelwood

Created by famous perfumer Harry Fremont of the Firmenich, Oscar de la Renta Bella Blanca is a powdery/floral perfume that starts to seduce with fresh pear notes along with green leaves calming with floral accords of lily of the valley, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom and aromatic roses. The base calms on a woody layer made of musk, sandalwood, and iris.

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Gorgeous model Zhanna Brass is the face of the new perfume shotted in a gorgeous pure and white roses-infused garden by photographer Kristian Schuller. The perfume’s flacon design is simple, yet elegant and beautiful, a splendid white flacon including three dimensional white blossoms on it.

Oscar de la Renta Bella Blanca is available as 30, 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum.

 

 

 

Countess Mona von Bismarck and Cristobal Balenciaga

Countess Mona von Bismarck, the queen of the international cafe society according to Vogue. Cecil Beaton described her as a ‘rock-crystal goddess’. Coco Chanel voted her to be the best dressed woman in the world and Cristobal Balenciaga was her close friend and favourite designer. The fashion conscious Countess Mona von Bismarck developed a vèry close relationship with the world renowned designer Cristobal Balenciaga and lasted for almost 30 years. It is reported that on one occasion when most of her clothes were destroyed in a railroad accident she ordered over 150 dresses from the couturier in one setting.

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Countess Mona von Bismarck wearing Cristobal Balenciaga (Photo by Cecil Beaton)(Click photo to enlarge).

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Countess Mona von Bismarck wearing Cristobal Balenciaga (Photo by Cecil Beaton)(Click photo to enlarge).

In May 1968, during the manifestations and general strike in Paris, when Balenciaga retired, as an act of mouring, Countess Mona von Bismarck shut herself behind closed doors sipping champagne for three days. Finis Mundi.

by Jean Amr