1950s Cristobal Balenciaga Jacket

Its not that I don't love Balenciaga gowns and dresses, but his coats and jackets drive me to distraction. He had a way of designing these seemingly simple pieces in such a complex, utterly precise way, I really takes my breath away. Take for instance this adorable little jacket of fine silk shantung in a remarkable shade of rose red. It is a marvel of design and craftsmanship.

Scroll down the photos to the close up of the seams. It looks like piping was added, but actually this effect was created by the precise folding and sewing of the silk. The jacket is lined in the same silk, and was also sewn so perfectly you could almost wear it inside out. The cuffs seem to be simply folded up, but if you look closely they were sewn precisely to the perfect length and thickness to hold the correct style. The thin collar glides in gentle curves to the open front (no closures) that falls perfectly to the center. The back slightly curves out, almost like Balenciaga's famed barrel cut coat. The number written under the label places the creation of this jacket somewhere either in 1949 or 1950.