Spring 1951

Woman's Evening Ensemble: Dress, Overdress, Bustle, and Petticoat

Inspired by his Spanish heritage, master couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga reinterpreted a flamenco dancer’s full, flounced dress. In his version, black organza petals cascade down the skirt front, softly framed by the cutaway skirt of a removable white cotton overdress. Balenciaga’s $3,000 haute couture creation, exquisitely tailored and constructed, was purchased for a special showing at Wanamaker’s department store because it "most dramatically illustrates the 1951 fashion trend of extravagant romanticism."