Azzedine Alaia 2020 Nude Acetate AA0013S Sunglasses w/ Studding rt. $620
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
Azzedine Alaïa
Master Couturier, King of Cling: legendary fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa (1935–2017) is known by many names, each referring to his unparalleled ability to mold fabric onto the female form in unexpected and radical ways. The Tunisian-born designer spent his entire life in relentless pursuit of a wholly distinctive and most-flattering fit.
“For me, fashion is the body,” said Alaïa. “I make clothes; women make fashion.”
Alaïa is credited with inventing the supermodel through his exclusive fashion shows, the body-con dress — which, quite literally, hugs the body and emphasizes and embraces every curve — and pioneering what industry professionals have taken to calling “slow fashion.” The designer openly rejected empty, of-the-moment fads as well as the structure of biannual seasons and instead took his time, unhurried by press and releasing collections at his own pace. Most importantly, Alaïa was a visionary when it came to traditional notions of femininity and sexuality. At a time when loose, soft silhouettes were the norm, Alaïa’s sexy, waist-cinching hourglass and body-con outfits were shocking.
Alaïa’s “body-conscious clothes,” wrote fashion critic Suzy Menkes, “seemed a deliberate challenge — throwing down a sexist gauntlet in a feminist world.”
While powerful women such as Madonna, Michelle Obama, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington wear Alaïa’s creations today, his origins were remarkably humble.
Born to a farming family, Alaïa always had a creative streak. As a young boy, he would flip through women’s fashion magazines and quickly became interested in the design of women's clothing. He went on to study sculpture at the School of Fine Arts in Tunis and later worked as a tailor for a dressmaker before he found work creating garments based on Parisian haute couture designs. The combination of his classical training in sculpture and practical experience as a tailor convinced Alaïa that fashion was his calling. In 1957, he moved to Paris and worked for Christian Dior for less than a week before being fired. From there, Alaïa secured a job with Guy Laroche and opened his own maison in the 1970s.
At his core, Alaïa was a couturier who cut and sewed his samples himself. He also experimented with zips, seams, unexpected materials, textures, animal prints and floral patterns like an artist. Today, Alaïa’s clothes look untouched by the passage of time and the various trends that have materialized since their debut; they are as fresh, stylish and stunning as ever. His garments are pop-culture icons in their own right: Cher Horowitz, played by Alicia Silverstone in 1995’s Clueless, exasperated with a perpetrator holding her at gunpoint, declares, “But this is an Alaïa!”
Vintage Alaïa evening dresses, skirts and other attire continue to influence contemporary designers such as Nicolas Ghesquière and Hervé Léger. Not only are his clothes timeless in their glamour, but they also represent the groundbreaking vision of an artist, one who was known to proclaim, “I am not a designer. I am a couturier.”
Find a collection of Azzedine Alaïa day dresses, suits, jackets and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Linda Farrow x The Row Orange Ombre Sunglasses w/ Leather AccentBy Linda Farrow, The RowLocated in New York, NYLinda Farrow x The Row Orange Ombre Sunglasses w/ Leather Accent Made In: Japan Color: Orange Hardware: Goldtone hardware Materials: Resin, leather a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Sunglasses
- Linda Farrow Luxe Black/Grey Ombre Sunglasses W/ CaseBy Linda FarrowLocated in New York, NYLinda Farrow Luxe Black/Grey Ombre Sunglasses W/ Case Color: Black/grey Hardware: Silvertone Materials: Resin, metal Overall Condition: Excellent pre...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Sunglasses
- Hermes Bordeaux Cosmos 90cm Silk Scarf designed by Philippe LedouxBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Bordeaux Cosmos 90cm Silk Scarf designed by Philippe Ledoux Made In: France Color: Bordeaux, gold, rasin Materials: 100% Silk Overall Condition: Very good with the exception ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scarves
- Hermes Multicolor Photo Finish 90cm Silk Scarf Designed by Dimitri RybaltchenkoBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Multicolor Photo Finish 90cm Silk Scarf Designed by Dimitri Rybaltchenko Made In: France Color: Multicolor- pink, black, brown, blue, purple Materials: 100% Silk Overall Cond...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scarves
- Chanel Tan/ Brown Rabbit Fur Stole w/ Leather Quilted Stitching at TrimBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYChanel Tan Rabbit Fur Stole w/ Leather Quilted Stitching at Trim Color: Tan and brown Materials: 100% Rabbit Fur; Lining- 50% Wool; 50% Cotton Overall Condition: Excellent with the e...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Stoles
- Hermes Petit Main 90cm Silk Scarf by Caty Latham JadeBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Olive/ Multicolor Petit Main by Caty Latham Jade Made In: France Color: Olive brown /multi Materials: 100% silk Overall Condition: Excellent with the exception of a couple sm...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scarves
- Vintage Helena Rubinstein Candy Red Quilted Sunglasses FranceLocated in Baleares, BalearesVintage Helena Rubinstein candy red quilted frame with light lenses. Made in France. Please notice this item is nearly 50 years old and may show mi...Category
1970s French Sunglasses
- New Vintage Christian Dior 2562 Gold & Tortoise 1980's SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Christian Dior 2562 gold frame with tortoise temples. Light gradient lenses. Made in Germany. Produced and design in 1980's. New, never worn or displayed. This item ...Category
1970s German Sunglasses
- Vintage Miss Dior Two Tone Amber Mask Light Brown Lenses 70'S Austria SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in Baleares, BalearesVintage Super Rare Christian Dior Miss Dior Oversized Mask Two Tone Amber Light Medium Brown lenses. New Never Worn This Piece Could Show Wear Due To Storage. Made In Austria. M...Category
1970s Austrian Sunglasses
- New Vintage Anglo American Optical Gold M85 Flip Top Sunglasses 1960'SBy Anglo American OpticalLocated in Baleares, BalearesHighly collectable sunglasses signed by English Anglo American Optical. Flip top system. Spotless pair of grey lenses. This pair could show minor sign of wear due to storage. Mad...Category
1980s English Sunglasses
- Vintage Cartier Driver Gold Plated 60 Frame France 1990 SunglassesBy CartierLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew condition 1990 Cartier Driver 60 [] 18 Sunglasses with brown (uv protection) lenses. All hallmarks. Cartier gold signs on the ear paddles. These are...Category
1990s French Sunglasses
- Versace brown swarovski sunglasses NWOTBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Capri, ITVersace brown swarovski sunglasses NWOTCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sunglasses