S01.E01: A Matter of Style

[Snazzy Daisy]

Synopsis:

Quote

Cristóbal Balenciaga faces a difficult beginning in Paris with his first haute couture collection.

Airdate: January 19, 2024

 

[Snazzy Daisy]

This man has bionic eyes for sleeves, button holes and pleats. 😱 

Cristóbal Balenciaga makes his debut in Paris in 1937 but his designs don’t make an impression. Overall, he gets positive reviews but his design lacks personality.

Cristóbal can be described as:

• A private person.
• Workaholic.
• Obsessive.
• Perfectionist.
• Need to control every details of the design/construction process.
• A man of few words.
• Worry about his perceived rivals.
• Nervous about getting into Parisian high society.

Wladzio d'Attainville is a great partner to Cristóbal. He knows how to handle him.

Coco Chanel acknowledging Cristóbal’s talent as a dressmaker is inspiring, despite their rivalry.

Quote

“Did you know he’s been sewing since he was a child? Balenciaga is the last true dressmaker. The rest of us are just designers.”

- Coco Chanel

The most dramatic moment in this premiere is Cristóbal having a meltdown over sleeves and pleats. Hoping for more dramas, tragedies, tensions and stylish period pieces in incoming episodes. This series needs something spicy.

Some of the reviews cynically implied that viewers who aren’t that interested in the brand won’t be that interested in its founder. I have to disagree with this. I couldn’t care less about the Balenciaga brand as it currently depicts overpriced pieces and exhibitionism. This series is about the origin of this brand - a period drama about a dressmaker who crafted his garments delicately with passion and care.

 

Edited January 22, 2024 by Snazzy Daisy