Balenciaga or not???? Help...

[inkedpalm]

Hello everyone!

I came across these lovely pumps silver pumps. I tried resourcing and could find little on vintage Balenciaga. Jonathan's book finally arrived and I could find nothing regarding Balenciaga in the index or glossary. (the book is awesome) The label resource doesn't have this style of label.

Are these Balenciaga? All four were purchased together and are now being auctioned on ebay. Any help is would be welcome.

Nadine

The other's.

 

[Jonathan]

Balenciaga isn't in my book because he wasn't a shoe designer. A line of shoes did appear in the 1960s with his name in them but I am sure its a licensed line that was available only in the United States. This is a bit like the Suzy Perette shoes that someone else had a pic of a few days ago. Designers like Dior and Chanel started carrying eponymously named footwear in the 1950s and other designers toyed with that as well but never for more than a few years. Dior and Chanel were the only two I know of who were successful and Dior was successful only because his shoe designer was Roger Vivier from 1953 to 1963. Chanel was successful only because of that one beige pump with the black patent toe cap.
All shoes I have seen with Balenciaga names in them date from about 1963 - 1968. Balenciaga announced his retirement in 1967 but did do one more collection in the summer of 1968. These shoes are right around that time, probably 1968ish but because these are licensed products and not actually designed by Balenciaga they could even be from 1969 or 1970.

 

[inkedpalm]

Thank you, Jonathan.

Ok, I understand now why there was little info on shoes. I appreciate the info and again, the book is fabulous and much larger than I had expected. Real "eye candy" and informative.

Nadine