This exhibition highlights the 'Eisa' cocktail dress by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a significant piece from the museum's collection. The display details the garment's construction, its historical and social context in post-war Spain, and the legacy of the EISA fashion house.
The Museo del Traje presents the 'Eisa' cocktail dress by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a representative piece from its collection, as its 'Model of the Month' for November. This exhibition delves into the socio-economic landscape of Spain following the Civil War, a period marked by austerity and a shift in societal norms that also influenced fashion. It details how, by the mid-1950s, economic recovery and increased communication with the outside world began to open up new avenues for consumer desires, particularly among the emerging bourgeoisie.
The 'Eisa' dress itself, crafted from draped black organza embroidered with amber and crystal beads over a strong underlying fabric, exemplifies the elegance of cocktail attire from the late 1940s. The exhibition elaborates on the dress's construction, including its two-part design with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt, and its accompanying inner lining. It also provides a comprehensive overview of Cristóbal Balenciaga's career, from his early influences and the establishment of his fashion houses, including EISA, to his status as an international haute couture reference alongside designers like Christian Dior. The text further contextualizes Balenciaga within the Spanish fashion scene, discussing his contemporaries and the impact of historical events on the industry.