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From his first creations, these sophisticated Spanish ornaments with their corsets, their silk stockings, their doublets and collars inspired him in correspondence with the portraits of the Iberian painting.
With his style, he quickly conquered Spain and Paris where he opened his studio, Avenue George V, giving the example to Dior, Chanel, Given- chy, Ungaro and Paco Rabanne.
These models quickly become icons as his trapeze silhouette in the ‘50s- ’60s, front arched and blurred volume in the back, his style provokes the international craze and his success.
El Greco with his black velvet suits was the prelude to the creation of the inevitable little black dress. Balenciaga has drawn from the embroidery and the flowery prints of the great masters, the richness of the finery of which they adorn the dresses and the fabulous accessories of his grace- ful silhouettes. Francisco de Zurbaran gives him the lines of his wed- ding dresses as he borrows Goya tulles and lace. His flamboyant evening dresses are born with the attention of the flamenco dancers immorta- lized by Ignacio Zulaoga.