Alaia Ribbed and Ruffled Knit Skirt and Sweater
View Similar Items
Alaia Ribbed and Ruffled Knit Skirt and Sweater
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small (EU)
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:
- Condition:Please note that the sweater has minor issues and is basically just given with the skirt. The skirt is in pristine condition.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU140211431083
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.
- Chanel Turquoise Floral Lace Top and Skirt Set Size 40By ChanelLocated in Beverly Hills, CAProduct details: Featuring turquoise short sleeves top and flare mini skirt with floral lace pattern. Both size 40. The top measurement: bust is33.5", waist is 33.5", length is 21...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Flare Skirts
$1,640 Sale Price20% Off - Rare 1980s skirt set, funky Geometric printLocated in NEWARK, GBA fab vintage 1980s loud, Abstract print skirt suit / three piece skirt set. Jazzy monochrome print with vibrant yellow accents. The blouse has short boxy sleeves, black plastic buttons and is a short length with with a slinky black pussy bow tie and a white waffle cloth collar. The skirt is an A line skirt, knee length and quite structured This fantastic blouse and skirt set also comes with the original vintage white hold up stockings. A very rare 80s...Category
Late 20th Century British Skirt Suits
- 1980's Christian Dior Chiffon Skirt Suit Numbered Collection 41CBy Christian DiorLocated in Carmel, CALate 1980's Christian Dior Boutique chiffon skirt with separate asymmetrical fitted bodice in black crepe. The ensemble has a numbered label and handwritten tag identifying the colle...Category
1980s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Gianni Versace Couture Bodycon Knit Skirt and Top Set VintageBy Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni VersaceLocated in Carmel, CAGianni Versace black knit skirt and top set, size 6. • Back zipper closure on skirt • Top measurements: 28”, length 18” • Skirt measurements: waist 27”, hips 32”, length 20” Made...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Skirts
- Azzedine Alaïa Suit 2pc Jacket and Skirt Intarsia Knit Abstract Rare Vintage MBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Port Saint Lucie, FLA unique, abstract Intarsia knit suit by Azzedine Alaïa, likely made in the late 90s or early 2000s. Made from 100% new wool, the knit features abstract shapes in shades of red, blu...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Skirt Suits
- 70s Emmanuelle Khanh Paris Skirt Set 2pc Tie Top & Wrap Skirt Made in Italy 38By Emmanuelle KhanhLocated in Port Saint Lucie, FLVintage Emmanuelle Khanh Paris light weight wool blend tie top & wrap skirt set, 2pc set, likely made in the 70s. Made from a light wool blend fabric in a fawn-hued tan, it features...Category
1970s Italian Skirt Suits