Balenciaga, Dior & Fath: Haute Couture’s Holy Trinity

Balenciaga, Dior & Fath: Haute Couture’s Holy Trinity
by Scott William Schiavone

Haute couture is more than fashion—it is a true art form, and some of its most iconic moments emerged in the years following World War II. This was when Paris reclaimed its status as the Capital of Fashion, renowned for creating the most luxurious, imaginative garments money could buy.

At the heart of this golden era were three legendary names: Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Jacques Fath. Each was a master of mid-20th-century couture—Dior revolutionised post-war style with his 1947 ‘New Look’, Balenciaga became known as the father of contemporary fashion, and Fath, though less remembered today, was celebrated for dressing the chic young Parisienne with daring flair.

This lecture delves into their lives, their creative triumphs, and the extraordinary era many consider the pinnacle of French haute couture.

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Scott William Schiavone is a Fashion Historian and Curator. He is an alumnus of both the University of Glasgow and the London College of Fashion, having graduated with an MA (Hons) in History of Art in 2004 and an MA in Fashion Curation in 2010. Scott has worked with fashion and textile collections across the UK, including Glasgow Museums, National Museums Scotland, and The Harris Museum in Preston, where he is currently the Decorative Art Curator.

He also runs his own YouTube channel, Fashion &…, which now has over 5,500 subscribers. His areas of expertise include 19th- and 20th-century French, British, and American womenswear, luxury fashion accessories, and the marginalised social histories of fashion.