{"product_id":"1960s-eisa-balenciaga-haute-couture-white-cotton-dress-suit","title":"1960s Eisa Balenciaga Haute Couture White Cotton Dress Suit","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis elegant haute couture ensemble was made during the very early 1960s by Cristóbal Balenciaga at his Spanish atelier and hence is labelled Eisa. Cristóbal opened his first fashion house in San Sebastián, Spain, in 1917 and choose to honour his mother, a seamstress, by calling his house Eisa, a shortened version of his mother’s maiden name Eisaguirre. He moved to Paris during the Spanish civil war and but later reopened and managed Eisa himself with the help of his assistants until he retired in 1968. Through the twentieth century, fans of Cristóbal’s designs included Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner and socialites Mona von Bismarck and Claudia Heard de Osborne of Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eItems designed by Cristóbal himself are hard to come by today and so we are delighted to present this ensemble in such good, wearable condition. Composed of a sleeveless shift-dress and coordinating collarless jacket, a close study reveals the masterful haute couture tailoring. Both garments are tailored from thick white cotton with a chunky, interlocking textured weave. The above knee-length dress has a nipped-in waist and tulip-shaped skirt reminiscent of the cocooning silhouettes that Balenciaga was venerated for. The pockets at the front of the hips emphasise the rounded shape. The dress is fully lined with silk that has gently aged to off-white and fastens under the arm with a hidden zip. The silk lined boxy jacket is long-sleeved and cut to a cropped length that allows the shape of the skirt underneath to shine. Both pieces contain the original “EISA” label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rare survivor of 1960s couture by one of the greatest couturiers who ever lived is in excellent vintage condition. In very bright light I noted barely perceptible tonal lines running down the arms where the ensemble has been stored but this is not anything which can be detected when worn. There are no size or composition labels, so please check our measurements below closely as the fabric does not have any stretch. Our model is a UK 6-8, US 2 and 5ft 4in (163cm); this suit fit her well. We estimate the original owner would have been around our model's height or shorter and the proportions would not suit a taller woman. Of note there is a large seam allowance around the bottom of the dress and this could be let down if required - the line is not especially pressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMEASUREMENTS DRESS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBust - 32 in. (81.28 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaist - 30 in. (76.2 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHip - 37 in. (91.44 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength - 31.5 in. (98.5 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMEASUREMENTS JACKET\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBust - 40 in. (104.14 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaist - 37 in. (104.14 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShoulder - 17 in. (41.91)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHip - 40 in. (104.14 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength - 17.5 in. (92.9 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CIRCA VINTAGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57072088580474,"sku":null,"price":2250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0398\/5978\/1798\/files\/1960s_Eisa_by_Balenciaga_Haute_Couture_White_Cotton_Dress_Suit_03_d2b7c04c-152d-4a17-963e-eebc1e653e76.jpg?v=1784110888","url":"https:\/\/www.circavintage.com\/products\/1960s-eisa-balenciaga-haute-couture-white-cotton-dress-suit","provider":"CIRCA VINTAGE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}