Azzedine Alaia Vintage Knit Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fabric pilling, faint marks, a few pulled threads.
- Seller Location:Nice, FR
- 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.
![](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/v_2592/DEALER_STOREFRONT_CAROUSEL/1463310630_e0h0o/Fotolia_108308446_M.jpg)
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: French Riviera, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Jean Paul Gaultier Corset Lace Bra Dress US Size 12By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER rare off-white paneled corset like featuring lace bra and lingerie style straps. This dress is made of stretch knit panels to fit to the ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- MOSCHINO Cheap and Chic Sky Blue Cloud Peace Dress US Size 8By MoschinoLocated in Nice, FRMOSCHINO Cheap and Chic sky blue cloud peace dress. This dress features : - A cloudy sky print with block PEACE lettering. - Back black panel. - Sleeveles...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Versace Jeans Couture 1990s Chess and Tropical Flowers Print DressBy Gianni Versace, Versace Jeans CoutureLocated in Nice, FRVERSACE JEANS COUTURE 1990s chess and tropical flowers print dress from GIANNI VERSACE era. This dress features : - Black and off-white chess a...Category
20th Century Italian Day Dresses
- Thierry Mugler Vintage Black and White Asymetric Bustier DressBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Nice, FRTHIERRY MUGLER vintage black and white asymetric bustier dress. This dress features : - Black wool gabardine with asymetric white details on the bust line and the bottom edge. - Str...Category
20th Century French Cocktail Dresses
- Moschino Vintage Graphic Print "M.O.S. CHI? NO!" Mini Dress US Size 12By MoschinoLocated in Nice, FRMOSCHINO vintage black jersey mini dress featuring a "M.O.S. CHI? NO!" graphic across the front. This dress features : - Long sleeves. - 2 side front pockets. - 2 back pockets. and ...Category
20th Century Italian Day Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Aboriginal Maori Tattoo Print Maxi DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER vintage maxi dress featuring an opulent Aboriginal Maori tattoo print, deep round neckline and open sleeves. Stretchy material. Label reads GAULTIER JEAN'S. Made...Category
20th Century French Maxi Dresses
- 1980s Calvin Klein Gray Rayon Open Neck Maxi DressBy Calvin KleinLocated in Los Angeles, CACalvin Klein maxi dress Gray rayon Open v neck Shoulder pads Stretchy pull-on style Size 6 Made in USA *Please feel free to contact us with the "Ask the Seller" link should you...Category
1980s American Maxi Dresses
- Issey Miyake Sculptural Pleats Please Vintage Pleated Avant Garde Midi DressBy Issey MiyakeLocated in Sparks, NVStunning vintage Issey Miyake Pleats Please dress. Unlined with no closure (pulls on over the head). The bust measures 29-42" (un...Category
1990s Japanese Day Dresses
- Rare Maison Margiela Optical Illusion Photo Print Oversized T Shirt Dress TunicBy Maison Martin Margiela, MM6 Maison MargielaLocated in San Diego, CARare MAISON MARGIELA MM6 oversized silky photo print patchwork semi sheer t-shirt dress tunic! Features warm tones in green, lavender purple, gray and yellow. Solid gray sheer panels throughout. Simply slips over the head. Great alone, or layered with boots. Would also look fantastic as a dress with heels. The pictured black vintage Moschino belt...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Silk jersey printed dress Emilio PucciBy Emilio PucciLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRSilk jersey printed dress. Exclusively for Saks Fifth Avenue SIZE M ( 10 Us)Category
1960s Italian Day Dresses
- Missoni Multi Colour Diagonal Stripes Knitted Long Sleeves DressBy MissoniLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Missoni multi colour diagonal stripes knitted long sleeves dress. Featuring a round neckline and slit on both sides. A beautiful knitted dres...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Pink Silk Sleeveless Flared Mini Dress MBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2How cute is this dress from the House of Oscar de la Renta! Tailored elegantly, this mini dress exhibits an effortlessly feminine silhouette that will make you look charming. It is d...Category
2010s Italian Casual Dresses