Nicolas Ghesquière Design

The House of Balenciaga is rich in history. Founder Cristóbal Balenciaga was once described by Christian Dior as "the master of us all." Balenciaga is clothes for real women in the real world. Styles are severely tailored and flattering to the wearer. Nicolas Ghesquière love affair with the house began in the early nineties but his love for design began much younger.

Ghesquière grew up in Loudun, a small town in France. At the age of 14 he got an internship with designer Agnès B. and by the age of 18 he was working with Jean Paul Gaultier. For two years, staring at 21, he designed an anonymous line of knit wear and he freelanced. Balenciaga came next in 1995, where Ghesquière started out designing women's clothes for the Asian market. At the time the head designer was Josephus Thimister. Thimister was fired in 1997 after an audience walked out on a show that featured ear splitting music. Ghesquière asked for the job of head designer and was given it; he was just 26.

Like Bailey with Burberry, Ghesquière has breathed new life into a dying house. His leadership has brought Balenciaga back into the spotlight. Due to his success with the house, Tom Ford and his partners with the Gucci Group purchased Balenciaga. Their plan was not to impose on Ghesquière; in fact, he was the reason for the purchase. They wanted to keep him in the fold.

Ghesquière is a rare gem in the fashion world: people in the industry look to him to see where fashion is headed. He was behind the return of the 80's look of big shoulders, skinny pants, et al. In October 2001 he was named the avant-garde designer of the year at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards. His work is original and innovative. Ghesquière has no plans in the immediate future to start his own label, but he's sure to have success follow him if he does.