More than three decades after his death, the Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972) has become a legendary figure in the history of 20th-century fashion. His name is now a byword for clothes executed to the highest standards and characterized by sculptural quality, deft manipulation of textiles and dramatic use of colour. This absorbing book, with breathtaking illustrations, examines Balenciaga's design and business practice, placing him firmly in the context of the time and country in which he learnt his trade and the international fashion scene in which he subsequently matured and triumphed.