October 2007

To mention fashion is to speak of trends, catwalks, shows and models; of a world where great fashion designers and design masters combine the art of dress making with new fabrics and textures to show the world the latest trends. Correos devotes this issue made up of a Souvenir sheet of four stamps to Spanish fashion and to one of the most famous Spanish designers of all times, Balenciaga.

SPANISH FASHION

Amongst the names that host a place of honour in the pages of international fashion is no doubt that of the Spaniard Cristóbal Balenciaga (Guetaria, Guipúzcoa 1895-Valencia 1972), the promoter of a new style proclaiming “finesse of simplicity”. Master Balenciaga began his learning in Madrid. After opening the first couture salons in San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona in 1937 he settles in Paris where he stands out for the sobriety and the sumptuousness of his evening dresses. In the fifties he creates a new line of tight bust dresses, wasp like waists and voluminous hips; coats with no buttons or collars, Japanese sleeves, tunic dresses and the so called Empire style. His designs were worn by queen Fabiola of Belgium, princess Grace of Monaco and the duchess of Windsor. He was against prêt a porter and mass production and retires in 1968.

The souvenir sheet depicts representative pieces of a wardrobe. The 0,39 € stamp depicts a chantilly lace ivory colour dress over taffeta transparencies. It has a waist cut and plenty of volume. It was made in Paris in 1948-1950.

The 0,42 € stamp depicts a two piece party dress in red silk satin. The little jacket with a Japanese sleeve is embroidered with sequins and metallic thread and silver lamé. Paris 1960.

A morning suit made up of a dress and coat in red made in the sixties features in the 0,58 € stamp.

The last stamp of 0,78 € depicts a yellow linen dress with a square shaped neckline. The sleeve is again in a Japanese style and the skirt is slightly pleated. It has eleven plastic buttons of the same colour.

The images that are depicted in the stamps have been given by the Museo del Traje (Costume Museum) in Madrid, an institution that aims at making known the historical evolution of clothing of the regions of Spain.