Learning from 'The Master': Balenciaga Revealed

It's often said that couturier Cristobal Balenciaga didn't use corsetry to create his dramatic, sculptural garments. In order to find out more about how his incredible designs were constructed, we worked with X-ray artist Nick Veasey to see beneath the surface of several iconic dresses and hats. Both beautiful and forensic, the ghostly X-ray images reveal fascinating details not visible to the naked eye - including boning, hoops and dress weights which determine the exact fall of the fabric. Two of the X-rays also reveal dress pins which were accidentally left inside the hems by their original makers.
'Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion' is on display at the V&A from 27 May 2017 until 18 February 2018
vam.ac.uk/balenciaga

[@sensacion3181]

Aún sigue impresionado como trabajaba el Sr. Balenciaga.

[@Gebleektesnor]

NO WIRE HANGERSSSS

[@themarquis336]

Unbelievable work

[@jessicaarntzen582]

I'm pretty sure they put it on a wire hanger as a point of reference. The x-rays will never show the whole dress in one piece, and if there isn't any other metal or plastic in the garment, it may be difficult to put the image together. Like puzzle pieces with no edges.

[@gw4273]

@ 2:05 ...a Balenciaga on a WIRE hanger!!!???..Nooooooooo!!! 😂😂😂

[@fastair8546]

you didn't show us the nail in the corset :(

[@lamaglama934]

this is so cool

[@sunnyinleeds]

Wire hanger? It's Balenciaga for goodness sake, have some respect.

[@Whoreswillhavetheirtrinkets]

first things first, that corset/dress stays within where placed there by the customer NOT BALENCIAGA! It has the manufacturers label inside so technically THIS dress doesn't require boning, it was later altered. There are other examples of corsetry within Balenciaga's pieces BUT this isn't one of them clearly..... Look at the sahari inspired dress instead. Why does the V&A employ these hacks.

[@reisbob7786]

A Huddleston huh interesting

[@dmm9714]

wire coathangers?!!!

[@juanpan12]

hahahaha! best quote ever

[@baricala]

Mommie dearest is shook

[@inkumoon515]

NOOOO WIRE HANGAAAARRRSSS EVERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@astrogallus]

WHAT is a Balenciaga dress doing on a WIRE HANGER!?! Christina, get out of that museum! Get out of that museum RIGHT NOW!!!!

[@MS_3997]

Ohw pliz..

[@AM-yi4dd]

Eww 🤮