ALAIA white & black viscose PYTHON-JACQUARD KNIT Dress 36 XS
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- 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: Zürich, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- LOUIS VUITTON navy blue linen BUSTIER Sleeveless Dress 40 MBy Louis VuittonLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Louis Vuitton paneled bustier dress in navy blue linen (50%) and silk (50%). Features an a-line fit and chiffon silk straps. Corsage...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- ALAIA black cotton blend SCALLOPED JACQUARD KNIT Dress XSBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Alaïa scalloped jacquard bodycon dress in black cotton (80%), polyamide (15%) and polyester (5%). Opens with a concealed zipper on the side. Unlined.Has been worn and ...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- ALAIA black viscose blend STRIPE EMBELLISHED KNIT Dress 36 XSBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Alaïa stripe embellished bodycon dress in black viscose (75%), polyester (15%) and polyamide (5%). Opens with a concealed zipper at the bac...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- BRUNELLO CUCINELLI cream wool MONILI ASYMMETRIC Dress LBy Brunello CucinelliLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Brunello Cucinelli shift dress in ivory wool (53%) and viscose (47%). Features a crewneck with Monili trim, short sleeves and an asymmetric flared hem. Opens with a zi...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- CHANEL navy blue viscose 2019 19B QUILTED TERRY CLOTH MINI Dress 34 XXSBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel 2019 long sleeve mini dress in navy blue stretchy, soft & fluffy terry cloth viscose (66%), polyamide (33%) and polyester (1%) with quilted golden lurex pattern. The design features a ribbed stand-up collar, cuffs, hem and two front patch pockets embellished with faux pearl and gem buttons ind light gold-tone. Opens with a short front zipper with number 5 charm...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- CHANEL ivory & navy cotton blend 2017 17P STRIPED KNIT Dress 34 XXSBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chanel 2017 short knit dress in ecru and navy blue paper (71%), cotton (23%) and polyester (6%). The design features flared 3/4 sleeves and CC embellished pearl button...Category
2010s Casual Dresses
- Gianni Versace Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls Royce Cartoon Kourtney Kardashian DressBy Versace Jeans CoutureLocated in PARIS, FRGiannia Versace Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls Royce Cartoon Kourtney Kardashian Dress Versace Jeans Couture Gianni Multicolor Betty Boop Pop Art Rolls...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- 1970's Martha Palm Beach Navy and Red Maxi DressBy Martha Palm BeachLocated in Toronto, Ontario1970's maxi dress with a navy blue long sleeve ruched bodice and a long, softly gathered red and blue floral maxi skirt. Empire waist with a red an...Category
1970s American Informal Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent YSL Variation Vintage Fuchsia Tunic DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Nice, FRYVES SAINT LAURENT vintage gorgeous unworn fuchsia tunic dress. Short sleeves. Large buttons. 2 front pockets. Unlined. Label reads Yves Saint Laurent Variation Made in France. Si...Category
20th Century French Day Dresses
- Gucci by Tom Ford Pleated Powder Silk Dress with StripesBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Switzerland, CHStunning Dress by Tom Ford for Gucci For his final summer collection for Gucci in 2004 Sample piece from the Atelier Beautiful panel silk dress Handstitching Pleating details Strip...Category
Early 2000s Italian Informal Dresses
- Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Greek Style Dresses
- Mariano Fortuny Amythest Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated amythest colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns