Cape
Brand
Balenciaga
(French, founded 1937)
Designer
Cristóbal Balenciaga
(1895 - 1972)
c. 1962
Silk gazar
Gift of Mildred S. Hilson
Object number73.37.17
Cristóbal Balenciaga worked with Swiss textile firm Abraham to develop gazar fabric, a “screen-wire-like transparent stiff silk.” Gazar could be molded, enabling sculptural, yet airy forms. Balenciaga’s style during the 1960s absolutely relied on the qualities of fabrics to achieve his signature architectural, unadorned silhouette, epitomized by this dramatic cape.
DescriptionTwo tier evening cape in black silk gazar; waist length and knee length tiers gathered into wide collar bandExhibitions