Cristobal Balenciaga in Paris

You may well have of high-end fashion label Balenciaga, but what of the man who founded it - Spanish artist Cristobal Balenciaga? Referred to as "the master of as all" by Christian Dior, he is (or was) the most influential couturier of the last 60 years.

if you want to know why, you need to head off to the Museum of Fashion and Textiles in Paris, which is presenting a retrospective of the work of his work. The exhibition, which is over two levels of the museum, traces the evolution of the designer's "creations" and is complemented by thoughts and designs from the current artistic director at the fashion house, Nicolas Ghesquière.

The exhibition has just commenced and will run until January 28th 2007. A book is also available to coincide with the show, published by Thames Hudson.

Find out more at the Museum of Fashion and Textiles website