1997, Twenty-six year old Frenchman, Nicolas Ghesquiere appointed creative director, to inject new life into the once notable couture house of Balenciaga. Since, he has transformed the ghost of glamour into an ultimatly desirable brand. Each season the Balenciaga image evolves by virtue of Ghesquiere's fashion forward designs. True to the works of the late Christobal Balenciaga, renowned for his radical creations, Ghesquiere focuses on silhouette, fabrics, detail and finishes, often reinventing classic Balenciaga shapes such as the 'cocoon', 'balloon' and 'sack dress'. He designs for the present and the future, for what Balenciaga means today. As a "child of the eighties", his designs could be described as his fantasies of future fashion, often an eclectic mix of science, technology, history and romance. In the fourteen years under his direction, he has resurrected the house of Balenciaga, creating two womenswear and menswear collection each season, and picking up awards along the way; In 2000, the Vogue/VH1 Avant Garde Designer of the Year Award, followed by The Womenswear Designer of the Year title in 2001. Ghesquiere has gained an array of celebrity clients of the likes of Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman, Chloe Sevigny, Charlotte Gainsborough and editor in chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour. When asked, who he has in mind when he designs, he answered, "Any girl who puts on Balenciaga is a muse. I don't like to think of one particular when I'm designing".[1] What's interesting about Nicolas is that despite his success he shies away from the limelight, as did his predecessor Christobal, keeping the mysteries locked behind the noble maison doors. For the present Ghesquiere plans on developing the house further, with no news of his own label, to the disappointment of his loyal followers.
[1] Fashion Now 2, Taschen. All images, Google. Video, Youtube.
