With Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art this past summer, a new precedent was set for showcasing and teaching fashion history. Never before had the public come out in such large numbers to learn the history of a designer—and it forced the world to take notice of the fact that not only does fashion matter, but that fashion is genuinely worth studying. This exploration in to the history and contextualization of fashion and it’s designers has led to interest in exhibitions of the past, one of which stands out, Balenciaga: The Spanish Master. Although it already ran from November 19th, 2010 – February 19th, 2011, I encourage those who adored Savage Beauty to look into this exhibit as well.

This exhibition, hosted by the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute and conceived of by it’s Chairman Oscar de la Renta, investigated the role of Spanish culture in the designs of the legendary couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga. From Goya and Piccasso, to bull fighting and Catholicism, we can see how the world of early 20th century Europe shaped and inspired Balenciaga’s designs. These affects can be seen directly in the clothes, and really makes their history accessible to the average uneducated viewer.

Balenciaga: The Spanish Master offers an unprecedented look in to the vaults of Balenciaga. Francois-Henri Pinault, the brand’s owner, and current Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière, opened up the company’s extensive archives, which include original sketches, photographs, and runway samples, to be shown in the exhibition. It’s curator, famed Vogue Editor Hamish Bowles, scoured the globe to acquire key pieces, which accompanied by the archived material, created a truly impressive collection showcasing Cristóbal Balenciaga’s career.

For anyone who enjoyed Savage Beauty (or had the misfortune of missing it), it is not only recommended, but really obligatory, to investigate this exhibition. Unfortunately, you can no longer see it in the museum but you can view all the stunning Balenciaga creations in Balenciaga and Spain by Hamish Bowles. To Feast your eyes on more photographs of the jaw-dropping creations of one of fashion’s original geniuses, head here!

By Daniel Schneider-Weiler, Founder of The New Pastiche (www.TheNewPastiche.com) and Contributing Editor to My Fashion Database