Renato Balestra

Fashion designer Renato Balestra may not be a household name in some parts of the world but he is huge in Italy and very popular to people familiar with Italian high fashion. Balestra's clients are mostly royalties, first ladies and old Hollywood celebrities. His designs are wearable and elegant. In my opinion his strongest creations are his formal evening wear and cocktail dresses. Being a designer from the "old shool" I like how he does the construction of clothes because he always thinks of the woman wearing the clothes, I like the colors that he uses, the prints and the beading.


The young Balestra was originally an engineer until a fashion designer who noticed his designs were impressed and he was invited to work in the designer's atelier, that was the early 1950's. As luck and Balestra's talent would have it his designs gained much recognition when it was presented in 1952 in Florence under the haute couture collections. From then on it was one success after the other. Most of his collections are often shown in Rome where he is also based. Aside from designing his own label he also does theatre costumes for various operas and participates in workshops and lectures for fashion design students.

Presently the Renato Balestra signature is also seen in fashion accessories, makeup, home products, men's and women's ready-to-wear and high-end line. Truly one of Italy's traditional couturier.