ALAIA Paris ARABESQUE Red Sparkle Embroidered Peplum Top
About the Item
- Designer:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4493599363
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- KARL LAGERFELD Tribute Shirt by Takashi Murakami Limited Only 77 Pieces Size LBy Karl LagerfeldLocated in New York, NY"A Tribute to Karl" honors Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy through his most iconic style: The white shirt. This limited-edition design has been customized by Japanese artist Takashi Muraka...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shirts
- ISSEY MIYAKE Shirt Autographed By Guest Artist Yasumasa Morimura Series No.1By Issey MiyakeLocated in New York, NYIssey Miyake pleats please guest artist series No.1 Yasumasa Morimura . Yasumasa Morimura was first artist to collaborate with Issey ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Shirts
- Hermes Tee Shirt White Brides De Gala Top NEW 42By HermèsLocated in New York, NYGuaranteed authentic Hermes Brides de Gala Tee Shirt. Hermes Brides de Gala motif expressed in Gold writing on White. Crew neck and short sleeves. Fabric is cotton jersey. NEW Wit...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shirts
- CHANEL Black Stretch Top With Pink CC Long Sleeve SZ 42 NEWBy ChanelLocated in New York, NY100% AUTHENTIC GUARANTEED CHANEL Black Stretch Top With Pink CC Long Sleeve Bottom of the sleeve have hole for your thumb, very cool Zipper closure o...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shirts
- HERMES Silk Vintage Sweatshirt Size 38FR Mint NEW ConditionBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes 100% silk vintage sweatshirt Multicolor with peacock and swan print. Fabric looks new and unworn. Size 38 Fr.Made in France FINAL SALECategory
21st Century and Contemporary Shirts
- HERMES Horse Print Runway Fall 2019 Metallic Jacquard Tunic Top NEW W TagsBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYBeautiful rare Hermes runway metallic Jacquard tunic top Very special and exclusive fabric 46% Silk 40% Viscosa 14% Metallised Fiber.Brand new never used with tags Hermes hanger...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Shirts
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford FW-2003 Viscose & Silk Top with Ruffle DetailingBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Brussels, BEDuring his tenure at the historical House of Yves Saint Laurent, American designer Tom Ford made a point of putting sexiness back into the French brand. This clingy silk and viscose ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Chanel topBy ChanelLocated in Rubiera, RECHANEL Red and navy top 75% cotton 17% cashmere 8% silk Size FR 42 Made in Italy Flat measures: Length cm. 64 Shoulders cm. 28 Bust cm. 37 Excellent conditionCategory
2010s Italian Shirts
- Maison Martin Margiela red viscosa shirt, ss 2001By Maison Martin Margiela, Martin MargiellaLocated in Milano, IT- Designed by Martin Margiela - Sold by Skof.Archive - Red shirt - Plastic coulisse detail referenced on Look 13 - Button closure - Spring Summer 2001 - Made italy Size: FR 38 - ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Shirts
- VALENTINO burgundy silk FLORAL Short Sleeve Blouse T-Shirt Shirt SBy ValentinoLocated in Zürich, CHValentino floral pleated wide pants in raspberry, rose, black, and pale blue silk (100%) with short-sleeves and a key-hole neck. Closes with a matching button on the back. Has been w...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Blouses and Tops
- CHLOE carmine red silk OVERSIZED KEYHOLE Blouse Shirt 36 XSBy ChloéLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chloé long sleeve keyhole blouse in carmine red silk (100%). Features an oversized fit and buttoned cuffs. Opens with a concealed button ...Category
2010s Tank Tops
- CHLOE copper silk CREPE PANELED SATIN JERSEY Blouse Shirt 38 SBy ChloéLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chloé blouse in copper satin jersey viscose (100%) with crepe panels. Features balloon sleeves and a gathered heyhole-neck that closes with a concealed button. Unlined...Category
2010s Blouses and Tops
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Azzedine Alaïa Was a Couturier Who Thought Like a Sculptor
The first fashion exhibit to be held at the new London Design Museum celebrates the famed Tunisian-Parisian couturier's lifetime of work.
This Comme des Garçons Runway Gown Features the Work of 10 Artists
The standout look, from a collection that left fashion critics breathless, has us mesmerized.