In the late 50s Cristobal Balenciaga pioneered new shapes in women's fashion. In the same year as Dior’s New Look, Balenciaga’s ‘barrel’  or ‘cocoon’ line was featured in the fashion press. These radical shape evolved gradually in Balenciaga work - volume filled the 'balloon hems' of dresses was then used at the back of his 'semi-fit' lines – dresses and jackets fitted at the front but with loose voluminous backs. The press considered the barrel line to represent an alternative vision of fashion, drastically different to ‘hourglass” shapes promoted by Dior. The fashion press coined terms for Balenciaga styles, which have since become linked as descriptors for the garments: the ‘cocoon’ (or barrel line) coats&dresses, the ‘semi-fitted’ suit, ‘tunic’ dress, and ‘sack’ dress.
Like many of Balenciaga's most radical designs, this looks eventually filtered into the mainstream and remains fashion staples to nowadays.
 

In this course you will learn how to drape one of Cristobal Balenciaga iconic dresses - a cocoon dress with back pleat which was examined at Cristobal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain. In addition Elena explains how to create ‘balenciaga’ darts and provides two versions for dart creation.
The process of transferring the drape onto paper in order to achieve patterns is included in the course.

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3 months access to the video-lessons

More than 2 hours of lessons record

Tutor support and feedback

Certification

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Lessons content:

Introduction: Balenciaga cocoon dress

Placing the draping ribbon

Draping cocoon dress

Darts version_two darts from armhole

Creating the hemline

Draping &marking the yoke

Dress patterns, main piece

Yoke pattern

Dress evaluation