Azzedine Alaia SS 1994 houpette mini dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 102 in (259.08 cm)Marked Size: S (EU)Waist: 60 in (152.4 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 44 in (111.76 cm)
- Style:1990 (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Carnate, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2393213452282
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: Carnate, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Gucci zebra 2000 Dress by Tom FordLocated in Carnate, ITGucci zebra dress. By Tom Ford. Early 2000 style. Featuring olive green and khaki zebra print silk chiffon and leather asymmetrical off the shoulder dress....Category
Early 2000s Cocktail Dresses
- Valentino Black Floral Print Silk Dress 1970sBy Valentino Garavani, ValentinoLocated in Carnate, ITValentino Boutique Night Dress. Circa 1979. The composition label is missing. This Valentino dress is made from a double layered silk chiffon designed with a flower print of blue, re...Category
1970s Italian Evening Dresses
- See By Chloé Mid- Length Dress in BlackBy See By ChloeLocated in Carnate, ITSee By Chloé Mid- Length Dress in Black See by Chloé dress. Cotton and nylon. Lined with cotton. Shiny material. A shoulder with a knot as a detail. Zipped closure on the side. Si...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- Maison Martin Margiela black dress.Located in Carnate, ITDress Margiela. Missing composition label. It has a mini inner bodice. Laser cutting details on the back. Side zip closure. Size 40 Italian. Bust 40 cm Length 140 cm Excellent genera...Category
Late 20th Century Maxi Dress
- COURREGES vintage flower dressLocated in Carnate, ITCOURREGES Dress. Vintage clothe. Featuring silk and viscose. Fabrics and colors are really amazing. Size is missing. It fits an 40/42 Italian. Shoulder...Category
Late 20th Century Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Spring 1996 Ready to Wear - Gianni Versace DressLocated in Carnate, ITGianni Versace dress from the Spring 1996 ready to wear collection. In 93% silk, 5% poly and 2% elastane. Size indicated 4. breast 36 cm waist 32 cm 100 ...Category
1990s Evening Dresses
- Moschino Silk Contoured Hoop-Skirt GownBy MoschinoLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis gown will pull you in and intrigue you with all the curves and volume. This Moschino design is genius as the skirt has varying sizes of circular boning to fit to your own body's curves giving you a hyper-feminized silhouette. Featuring a full-length to add to the drama and a simple black color-way and tank-top style to let the bottom detail steal the show. The fabric is 100% silk. Make sure to pair this dress with dramatic earrings...Category
1990s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit bodycon dress and cardigan set, fw 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit dress and cardigan 2 piece set ▪ Sleeveless bodycon maxi dress with lining ▪ Long-sleeve full-length cardigan ▪ Gold Medusa buttons ▪ Can be wo...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vivienne Westwood bronze stretch-velvet and gold foil printed dress, fw 1990By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood bronze stretch-velvet evening dress ▪ Gold foil neoclassical print inspired by Andre-Charles Boulle ▪ Concealed zipper at center-back ▪ Size Medium ▪ Fall-Winter...Category
1990s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 2000s Marc Jacobs Vintage Black Taffeta Open Back Punk Inspired Evening DressBy Marc JacobsLocated in Portland, ORThis is a great vintage Marc Jacobs evening dress from the early 2000's. The dress is in an elevated, rich black taffeta with an open back that clo...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses
- Azzedine Alaia F/W 1991 Vintage Bodycon Velvet Knit Black DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Naples, FLAzzedine Alaia F/W 1991 Vintage Bodycon Velvet Knit Black Dress Size M Alaïa heavy knit velvet dress with open knit trim throughout, V-neck, long sleeves ...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Versace S/S 2016 Runway Embellished Cutout Sheer Panels Mini Evening DressBy VersaceLocated in Naples, FLVersace S/S 2016 Runway Embellished Cutout Sheer Panels Mini Evening Dress IT 40 Look 54 from the Spring 2016 Collection.Category
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns