ALAIA black wool gaberdine A TAILORED Blazer Jacket 42 L
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- 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.
- CHANEL blue white wool Tweed 3/4 Sleeve Blazer Jacket 48 XXXLBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CHChanel 3/4-sleeve tweed blaze in black, blue, and white wool (50%), polyester (20%), cotton (12%), and nylon (8%). With mandarin collar, slightly puffed shoulders, two pockets on the...Category
2010s Blazers
- CHANEL black cotton LACE LAYERED Blazer Jacket 38 SBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CHChanel lace-lacered blazer in black cotton (52%), rayon (32%), and nylon (16%) and white silk (100%). With shawl collar, two pockets on the front sides, buttoned sleeves, and signatu...Category
2010s Blazers
- TOM FORD burgundy cotton VELVET BLAZER Jacket 36 XXSBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford velvet blazer in burgundy cotton (100%). With peak collar, chest pocket, two flap pockets on the sides, and buttoned sleeves. Closes wi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- TOM FORD green cotton linen BELTED FITTED MILITARY Jacket 42 MBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford fitted military jacket in olive green cotton (55%) and linen (45%) with a notch collar, apaulettes, two keyhole chest pockets, two front flap pockets and decorative belted c...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- TOM FORD black silk OVERSIZED DOUBLE ZIP PONCHO Jacket 36 XXSBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford oversized poncho blouson jacket in black silk (100%) with double zipper detail and drawstring around hips. Brand new. Tag Size 36 Size XXS Shoulder Width 36cm (14in) Bust ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- TOM FORD black PERFORATED LEATHER TRENCH Coat Jacket 36 XXSBy Tom FordLocated in Zürich, CHTom Ford belted coat in black perforated nappa leather, nubuk and lambskin featuring gold-tone hardware. Unlined. Has been worn and is in excellent condition. Tag Size 34 Size XXS ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- Three Sam Kori Greorge Courture Atelier Boucle Jackets. Approximately size 12-14Located in Buchanan, MIThree Sam Kori Greorge Courture Atelier Boucle Jackets In The Style Of Chanel. Each is a wool boucle collarless jacket in blue, brown, and red. Priced per jacket. Approximately s...Category
20th Century American Single-Breasted Jackets
- Vintage Terry Paris Gold Medallion Leather Lace JacketLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLFabulous early 1990's Terry Paris Versace style jacket. Beautiful decorative goldtone medusa head medallions. Lace embellishment. Goldtone button closure a...Category
1990s French Jackets
- MUGLER 90S faux fur Biker jacketBy Mugler, Thierry MuglerLocated in Genève, CHMade of soft black faux fur fabric, this biker jacker has the emblematic sculpted Mugler’s shape. -Double breasted biker cut -Closed by six silver snap buttons embellished with a s...Category
1990s French Double-Breasted Jackets
- YVES SAINT LAURENT YSL Black Blazer with Dome ButtonsBy Christian DiorLocated in Genève, CHExclusive Yves Saint Laurent Variation black 100% "Fresco" summer wool jacket from the early 90s. Collarless, with large 5 gold dome shaped buttons down center and slash pockets on each hip. Both sleeves have three large dome buttons...Category
1990s French Blazers
- Rare Schiaparelli Black Quilted Faille Evening Cape, 1951By House of SchiaparelliLocated in New York, NYRare Schiaparelli Haute Couture Mandarin Black Quilted Faille Cape, 1951 Amazingly chic and modern quilted silk faille Haute Couture cape by Elsa Schiaparelli from the 1950's. M...Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Capes
- Schiaparelli Haute Couture Black Changeant Faille Evening JacketBy Elsa SchiaparelliLocated in New York, NYSchiaparelli Haute Couture Changeant Faille Jacket, 1938-39. "France gave me the inspiration: America gave me the approval" Elsa Schiapa...Category
1940s French Jackets