Late 1950 early 1960’s Balmain Encrusted Silver Cocktail Dress

Founded in post-war Paris, Pierre Alexandre Claudius Balmain 18 May 1914 – 29 June 1982) was only 30 years old in august 1944, when Paris was liberated and once freedom arrived, Balmain decided it was time to find his own couture house, quickly setting up his atelier inside a recently vacated space on 44 Rue de François Premier, central to revolutionizing French style. Balmain, described the art of dressmaking as “the architecture of movement.”debut show in October 1945 preceded Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ by two years and welcomed curve-enhancing silhouettes into the mix, such as bell-shaped skirts nipped in at the waist.