"I wanted to be considered a good craftsman. I wanted my dresses to be constructed like buildings, molded to the curves of the female form, stylizing its shape."
"You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age. You may wear it for almost any occasion; a 'little black frock' is essential to a woman's wardrobe."
"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."
"Haute couture is like an orchestra, for which only Balenciaga is the conductor. The rest of us are just musicians, following the directions he gives us."
"Bright reds - scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry - are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone."
"Women, with their sure instincts, realized that my intention was to make them not just more beautiful but also happier."
"Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest."
"The detail is as important as the essential is. When it is inadequate, it destroys the whole outfit."
"Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely."
"A dress is a piece of ephemeral architecture, designed to enhance the proportions of the female body."