Coco and Cristobal: The Complex Relationship of Chanel and Balenciaga
Coco Chanel (1883-1971) and Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972) had a complicated relationship. Coco Chanel was never one to take a liking to her contemporary counterparts, she had quite a few tiffs with other fashion designers throughout her career, however in the beginning Chanel and Balenciaga were good friends. What happened to their relationship?
Well, according to designer Givenchy, word got out that Chanel gave an interview to the fashion magazine Women’s Wear Daily criticizing Balenciaga’s homosexuality and even going as far as to say he created he dressed women the way he does because he knew nothing about a woman’s body.
Whilst both were world-renowned fashion designers during the same grand age of haute couture, they had different design philosophies and aesthetics. Chanel was known for her simple elegant designs and largely credited for popularizing the little black dress, whilst Balenciaga was known for his avant-garde sculptural creations and is widely acknowledged for changing the way women view silhouettes. Perhaps this was the reason for Chanel’s dislike of Balenciaga’s designs.
The Chanel-Balenciaga Fued: Quotes and Controversies
After such strong criticism by Chanel, it should come as no surprise that he took offense and was crushed by her betrayal. Balenciaga was a very introverted person and kept close to a small circle in general so to be betrayed by her was a huge deal.Their relationship seemed to be broken forever, however, they had their ups and downs. Givenchy, a close friend of Balenciaga’s was surprised when he went to Chanel’s funeral.
There is little that is known about Balenciaga’s opinions of Chanel, other than what other people thought of their relationship because he was a closed book. Balenciaga was never open to interviews and only gave two in his life after his retirement. He was even known to shy away from his very own customers, letting his employees handle meeting the ever-excited women who wanted to buy his collections.
Chanel once said: “Balenciaga alone is a couturier in the truest sense of the word.” Such as an amazing way to uplift and describe a fellow fashion designer, it would be hard to think that Balenciaga was not pleased when he heard how she felt about him. Although Chanel might not have liked his designs, she reportedly admired his technical skill and precision in cutting and draping fabric.
Balenciaga was one of the few designers who really understood how to manage the cloth that flowed through his hands, even spending time folding and unfolding his curtains when he could not fall asleep at night.
The Legacy of Coco Chanel and Cristobal Balenciaga
Coco Chanel and Cristobal Balenciaga were both fashion icons of their time, and they revolutionized the fashion industry with their unique styles and techniques. Although they might have disagreed with what inspired them or their values in dressing women, both of their designs continue to influence fashion designers today. Their legacies make them not just legends of their era but of all time.
In conclusion, the relationship between Coco Chanel and Cristóbal Balenciaga was complex, marked by both rivalry and mutual respect, significantly influencing the fashion world and leaving a lasting legacy on design and style.
