Cristóbal Balenciaga made his name in Paris in the 1940s and 1950s in the golden age of haute couture, and was hailed by Coco Chanel as 'the only true couturier amongst us, able to design, cut, assemble and sew a dress entirely by himself.' His clients included Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess ofWindsor. This book is published to mark the long awaited inauguration of the Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Guipuzcoa, Spain, which will house a permanent collection of over 100 pieces created by the master designer. Four introductory articles by Balenciaga experts present new research and analysis of the designer's work and assess his legacy, but at the heart of the book is a catalogue of the museum's outstanding collection in over 500 wonderful illustrations. This beautiful book will be essential reading for both designers and anyone interested in Balenciaga's life and work.