Azzedine Alaia 1980's Ribbed Knit Black Dress
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia 1980's Ribbed Knit Black Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 33 in (83.82 cm)Marked Size: M (EU)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Waist: 26 in (66.04 cm)Hip: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Cloverdale, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU140406581908
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.
- New Saint Laurent Runway Ad Denim Dress or Jacket Sz 44 $2250By Saint LaurentLocated in Leesburg, VASaint Laurent Brand New Stunning Runway Denim Dress or Pullover Jacket $2250 Italian Sz 44 Roughly U.S. 6/8/10 Army Green Button Closure at Front Attached Belt Drawstring Hood Two Side Pockets Two Breast Pockets Saint Laurent Buttons and Snaps Saint Laurent Jewelry...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- New Yves Saint Laurent YSL F/W 2008 Runway Heavy Wool Skirt Sz Fr42By Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Leesburg, VAYves Saint Laurent New F/W Runway 2008 Skirt Size: M US 6, FR42 100% Heavy Virgin Wool Black High Waist Fit Diagonal Front Zipper Concealed Button Closure Waist: 30" High Waist H...Category
Early 2000s French Skirts
$1,560 Sale Price20% Off - New Rare Salvatore Ferragamo Red Silk Dress F/W 2018 With Tags $3200 Sz 38By Salvatore FerragamoLocated in Leesburg, VASalvatore Ferragamo Brand New With Tags F/W 2018 * Retail $3200 * Stunning Deep Red Wine * IT 38. This is Square Shaped. Easily fits sizes 2-12 U.S. The Belt Gathers the Dress Per ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- New Gucci Wool & Cashmere Dress 90th Anniversary Pre-Fall 2011 Sz: 44By GucciLocated in Leesburg, VAGucci Fall / Winter 2011 Brand New Without Tags $2850 Butter Soft Runway Wool Cashmere Dress IT44 Silk Detached Camisole Wool & Cashmere Skirt Black & Gold Gucci Belt...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- New Yves Saint Laurent YSL Pre-Fall 2012 Wool & Leather DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Leesburg, VAStefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent Pre-Fall 2012 Brand New Without Tags Charcoal Wool Dress Lamb Leather Piping and Collar Zips Up the Back Italian Size 38 Bust: 36" Waist: 32"...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- New Gucci Wool & Cashmere Dress 90th Anniversary Pre-Fall 2011 Sz: 40By GucciLocated in Leesburg, VAGucci Fall / Winter 2011 Brand New $1850 Butter Soft Runway Wool Cashmere Dress IT40 Silk Detached Camisole Wool & Cashmere Skirt Black & Gold Gucci Belt...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses