Alaïa Shearling Bolero - 80s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Milano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4017222448402
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: Milano, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Issey Miyake Permanente Wool Dolman Coat - 80sBy Issey MiyakeLocated in Milano, ITIssey Miyake Wool Dolman Coat Wool Dolman Coat is a garment from the Permanente collection launched in 1985, known for revived original shapes and fabrics used in previous Issey Miya...Category
20th Century Asian Dolman Sleeve Coats
- Christian Lacroix Wool Coat - 90sBy Christian LacroixLocated in Milano, ITChristian Lacroix Wool Coat is a coat from the 1990 fall-winter pret a porter fashion show, featuring a wide contrasting lapel and high elastic cuffs. Embellishing the garment is the...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Coats
- Final Home Trenchcoat - 90sLocated in Milano, ITFinal Home Trenchcoat is a raincoat by Japanese designer Kosuke Tsumura. Final Home was born in the 1990s and already indicates from its name the idea behind the design: to provide a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Raincoats
- Gianfranco Ferré Raincoat - 80sBy Gianfranco FerréLocated in Milano, ITGianfranco Ferré Raincoat is a rare outerwear from Ferré featuring a wide cape-style structure with side zipper openings and contrasting red interior piping. Each zipper and gold met...Category
20th Century Italian Raincoats
- Missoni Tulle Cocktail Dress - 80sBy MissoniLocated in Milano, ITMissoni Tulle Cocktail Dress is a dress with an elasticized bandeau top contrasted with a voluminous bell-shaped skirt made of several layers of...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Gowns
- Gianfranco Ferré Cut-out Shirt - 80sBy Gianfranco FerréLocated in Milano, ITGianfranco Ferré Cut-out Shirt is a rare garment from ferrè featuring padded shoulder pads and a slouchy cut. the sleeves have adjustable button cuffs and the closure is a single but...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Slash Sleeve Shirts
- Hermès Light Pink Cashmere Wide Collar CoatBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAHermès Light Pink Cashmere Wide Collar Coat Dusty Light Pink/Blush Wide collar Wrap front with interior button fastening at waist Top button fastening for optional wide shawl colla...Category
2010s French Coats and Outerwear
- ISABEL MARANT Darsha Convertible black quilted puffer padded shell jacket FR38 MLocated in Hong Kong, NTISABEL MARANT Darsha Convertible samurai black quilted puffer padded shell jacket FR38 M Reference: JYLM/A00057 Brand: Isabel Marant Model: Darsha Material: Nylon Color: Black Patter...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Fur Puffer Coats
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Little Black Jacket, Cruise 2011By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Norwich, GBChanel La Petite Veste Noire, incredible collector's little black jacket, designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the Cruise 2011 collection. This design featured in the 2011 Chanel exhibitio...Category
2010s French Coats and Outerwear
- Beige cotton parka with detachable hood Christian Dior Monsieur SportBy Christian DiorLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBeige cotton parka with detachable hood with a zip. Zip closure in the middle front and on the pockets. Belt, belt-loop and buckle. Shell composition: 100% cotton. Lining: 65% polyes...Category
1980s Hong Kong Anoraks and Parkas
- Verheyen London High Collar Green Leopard Print Coat Goat Hair Fur Size uk 12By Verheyen LondonLocated in London, GBVerheyen London High Collar Green Leopard Print Coat Goat Hair Fur Size uk 12 This Leopard print coat is Verheyen London’s classic staple for effortless style and glamour. Verheye...Category
2010s Italian Coats
- Morphew Collection Red, Purple & Orange Silk KimonoBy MorphewLocated in New York, NYThis Kimono is made from our deconstructed Silk linings of the Kimonos we use in our Japanese silk collection, as we are a sustainable company we waste nothing, Each piece is one of kind due to the Ice Dying Procedure which takes a week to process. This silk fabric is light weight, soft and luxurious. Morphew Collection Red, Purple & Orange Silk Kimono...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Coats