Balenciaga And Spain at the de Young Museum in San Francisco

Last Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending the Balenciaga And Spain Opening Gala at San Francisco’s de Young Museum.  The exhibition features over 120 pieces that span the exceptional body of work by haute couture master Cristobal Balenciaga.  The outfits are organized by six sections that represent recurring themes in Balenciaga’s career: Spanish Art, Regional Dress, the Spanish Court, Religious Life and Ceremony, Bullfighting, and Dance.  Hamish Bowles, the European editor at large for Vogue, is the guest curator.

The opening Gala was hailed as San Francisco’s social event of the year.  Some of the guests in attendance were Anna Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom and wife Miranda Kerr, Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Maria Bello, Vanessa Getty, and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.

This is the third major fashion exhibition/retrospective to be held at the (New) de Young Museum since it’s opening in 2005.  The first was British designer Vivienne Westwood in 2007, followed by the incomparable Yves Saint Laurent in 2008.  Next spring we can all look forward to seeing the incredible work of Jean Paul Gaultier.

The Balenciaga And Spain exhibition opened to the public on Saturday and runs through July 4.  Be sure not to miss it!

– Susan, Contributor-At-Large