Cocktail dress
Design House House of Balenciaga French
Designer Cristobal Balenciaga Spanish
Not on view
Inspired by the dropped waist silhouette of the 1920s, Balenciaga's chemise quickly became the sack with midsection fluidity and fullness in contrast to its hobbled hemline. Its iconoclasm of nullifying the waist was controversial. Even an "I Love Lucy" episode featured Lucy and Ethel in Paris donning the faux chic of burlap sacks first as style victims and then as style leaders. Balenciaga disdained the popular and journalistic appellation of the sack.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
