Vintage 1951 Pierre Balmain Haute Couture Black Velvet Wide-Cuff Swing Coat
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 40 in (101.6 cm)Bust: 40 in (101.6 cm)Hip: 64 in (162.56 cm)
- Style:1950s (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3093392343
Pierre Balmain
Pierre Balmain founded his now-iconic label in 1945. Alongside fellow couture titans Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy, the French designer's postwar take on luxe dressing featured bell-shaped skirts falling from slender waists, structured jackets over sheath day dresses and embellishments like fur trim; he called the look “Jolie Madame.” The Duchess of Windsor was an early fan, prompting an aristocratic following.
From the voluminous skirts of the post-World War II “New Look” favored by Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich to the sleek, skinny jeans seen on Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and every Kardashian, clothes from the House of Balmain have long been mainstays in celebrity wardrobes.
The son of a dressmaker and a drapery salesman, Balmain's founder was born in 1914 in southeastern France and formed an interest in fashion at an early age. His mother wanted her son to be an architect — but the principles of design and structure that Pierre learned in his brief studies at the École des Beaux Arts served him well throughout his career.
Balmain was among the first to offer French looks to the American market. Since the death of the founder in 1982, the design reins at the company have been handed to luminaries such as Oscar de la Renta and Olivier Rousteing, an alum of Roberto Cavalli who was installed as creative director at the label in 2011.
Today’s Balmain has more in common with the master’s original haute couture than you might expect: sharply tailored blazers that nip in at the waist, delicate stilettos and ultra-feminine evening dresses are wardrobe basics for the 21st-century woman, too. Lovers of couture history will also prize the fluid, easy sketches from the master’s own hand they’ll find on offer here, while fashionistas clamor for the brand’s t-shirts, military-style jackets and skinny jeans.
Whether you’re a colonel in Rousteing’s “glamour army” or you fancy yourself a “Jolie Madame,” a Balmain piece — from the 1960s or even last season — will add a bold, sexy note to your look. Daytime or night, Balmain feels right now.
Find vintage Pierre Balmain dresses, skirts, scarves and other garments and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beverly Hills, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Vintage 1972 Geoffrey Beene Documented Checkered Wool Double-Breasted Mod CoatBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in Beverly Hills, CAIncredibly chic Geoffrey Beene couture black and creme checkered wool coat dating back to his 1972 fall/winter collection. Geoffrey Beene made strong imp...Category
1970s American Coats
- Vintage 1970's Harella of England Teal Blue-Green Velvet Back Belted Maxi CoatLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThis ultra-chic early 1970's Harella of England maxi coat will make any woman shine during cold months ahead. The fabric itself is gorgeous; vibrant teal blue-green midweight cotton-velvet. I love the matching brass buttons and long, lean cuffed sleeves. Shaped with a-line seams that flare out in a slight swing-skirt, the figure flattering cut adds fullness to the skirt without adding bulk in the hips. Complete with a back mock-belt and hidden pockets. The mark of a truly fashionable garment is that it remains current event 50 years later, as does this statement coat...Category
1970s English Coats
- Vintage 1969 Norman Norell Royal Blue Wool Double-Breasted Mod Military CoatBy Norman NorellLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThis timeless Norman Norell coat, in the chicest royal blue color, exemplifies his signature blend of couture level quality with quintessentially American style. This gorgeous garmen...Category
1960s American Coats
- Vintage 1951 Traina-Norell Couture Black Duchess Satin Voluminous Pleated CoatBy Traina-NorellLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThis exquisite Traina-Norell designer coat, fashioned in a high-quality duchess silk satin, exemplifies their signature blend of couture-level quality with quintessentially American ...Category
1950s American Jackets
- Vintage 1989 Yves Saint Laurent Leopard Print Cotton Twill Trench Jacket w/TagsBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Beverly Hills, CAChic Yves Saint Laurent leopard print cotton-twill trench jacket from the infamous Rive Gauche collection during spring-summer of 1989. Pieces from this collection are very rare and are true examples of fashion history. I adore the cuffed-sleeves and front duel pockets. The jacket features hidden buttons and a sexy back-slit. It is wearable and comfortable, yet has its own iconic elements. The best part of all is, the trench is in mint never worn condition! "In the mid-1970s the relevance of haute couture was seriously debated. The political and social upheaval of the 1960s, the emergence of a plethora of creative ready-to-wear designers, and the increasing preference for a sportswear approach to dressing as represented by American fashion were among the shifts in lifestyles and taste that appeared to sound the death knell of the calcified and elitist world of the maisons de couture. It was at this time that Yves Saint Laurent, haute couture’s preeminent practitioner, threw caution to the prevailing winds with a collection of unrivaled fantasy and luxury." Measurements Marked a EU 36 Bust: 40 inches Hips: up to 52 inches Sleeves: 24 inches Total Length: 42 inches This YSL designer...Category
1980s French Jackets
- Vintage 1970's Granny Takes a Trip Documented Merlot Red Velvet Blazer JacketLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn incredibly rare and ultra chic Granny Takes a Trip merlot red velvet jacket from the closet of legendary Scottish rock singer-songwriter Frankie...Category
1970s English Blazers
- Thom Browne Grey XS Velvet Collar Classic Chesterfield Overcoat Jacket CoatBy Thom BrowneLocated in Downey, CAThom Browne Grey XS Velvet Collar Classic Chesterfield Overcoat Jacket Coat This classic Thom Browne wool peacoat is a timeless investment piece for you wardrobe. Crafted out of a p...Category
2010s Italian Overcoats
- Thom Browne Blue XS Classic Chesterfield FW18 Cavalry Twill Overcoat Jacket CoatBy Thom BrowneLocated in Downey, CAThom Browne Blue XSClassic Chesterfield FW18 Cavalry Twill Overcoat Jacket Coat This classic Thom Browne wool peacoat is a timeless investment piece for...Category
2010s Italian Overcoats
- Oscar de la Renta Fall 2007 Vintage Eggplant & Silver Tweed Jacket - Size 10By Oscar De La RentaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLOscar de la Renta Eggplant & Silver Tweed Jacket with Rhinestones - 10. This vintage Fall 2007 jacket is an amazing find and a truly spectacular piece. It features a slightly cropped...Category
Early 2000s American Jackets
- Guy Laroche 1980's Black Silk Blend Evening Jacket - Size 40By Guy LarocheLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThe 80's is back with this Guy Laroche Vintage Black Silk Blend Evening Jacket - 40 - circa 1980s. This vintage evening jacket has a quilted design, 2 sealed front pockets, rhineston...Category
1980s French Jackets
- Canali Men's Black Quilted "Two-Way" Zippered Vest with Knitted-Ribbed CollarBy CanaliLocated in New York, NYCanali's wonderful and classically elegant signature men's black quilted zippered vest is detailed with a "two-way" zippered for the option to un-zip one end, while keeping th...Category
1990s Italian Vests
- A French Couture Bar Jacket Beads & Sequins Embroidered Sequins Circa 1950Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1945/1950 France Majestic Evening jacket of type Bar, probably haute couture, dating from the years 1945/1950. No labelled. Structured jacket with notched clips, black silk f...Category
1940s French Jackets
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
This Two-Piece Beaded Gown by Puerto Rican Designer David Fernandez Is the Embodiment of 1970s Glam
On the Met Gala red carpet, this vintage ensemble would bring the heat.
Madonna Wore the Same Plunging Azzedine Alaïa Design on the Cover of ‘Cosmo’ in 1987
The gold silk stunner was part of a knockout collection that changed the trajectory of Alaïa's then-troubled brand.