Azzedine Alaia Spring 1994 Houpette Chenille Green Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Hertfordshire, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2765222415412
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: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Dior Spring 2000 Purple Mesh Knit DressBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Hertfordshire, GBVintage Dior by John Galliano Spring 2000 Mauve purple knit mesh midi dress Purple underdress attached Size UK 10 / US 6 Can fit a variety of sizes due to stretch Measurements (laid flat) - 32-36...Category
Early 2000s Day Dresses
- Versace Fall 1997 Runway Black Leather Mini DressBy Gianni Versace, VersaceLocated in Hertfordshire, GBVintage Versace Fall 1997 - seen on the runway Black leather mini dress Spaghetti straps Very soft leather Zip up back Size IT 38 / UK 6 / US 2, can fit up to approx 1 size larger ...Category
1990s Day Dresses
- Givenchy Haute Couture by Alexander McQueen Spring 2000 Grey Mesh & Lace DetailBy Alexander McQueen for Givenchy Haute CoutureLocated in Hertfordshire, GBGivenchy Haute Couture by Alexander McQueen Spring 2000 - very similar version seen on the runway. Our one is made to order for a customer, so very likely to be one of a kind. Grey...Category
Early 2000s Jumpsuits
- Vivienne Westwood Spring 1994 “Cafe Society” Runway Leopard Jeans & T Shirt SetBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in Hertfordshire, GBVintage Vivienne Westwood Spring 1994 “Cafe Society” collection - t shirt seen on the runway, many other leopard print pieces also seen on the runway Leopard print t shirt and jean...Category
1990s Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Chanel Spring 2002 Pink Silk Knit JacketBy Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Hertfordshire, GBVintage Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Spring 2002 Light pink silk knit jacket Four leaf clover with CC buttons Monogram silk lining 100% silk outer 95% silk, 5% lycra lining Size EU 3...Category
Early 2000s Jackets
- Hermes by Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2007 Metallic DressBy HermèsLocated in Hertfordshire, GBHermés by Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2007 - same dress seen on the runway in another fabric & same fabric seen in another style Metallic gunmetal grey dress High cowl neckline Midi ...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Silk jersey and chiffon printed cocktail dress Averardo Bessi Circa 1960'sBy Averardo BessiLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRSilk jersey and chiffon printed cocktail dress. Belt with gold metal hardware and chain fringes at the end. Shoulder pad. Zip and hook&eye in the middle back. The top part of the dre...Category
1960s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1970S Purple & Blue Striped Poly Blend Satin Long Sleeve Day To Night DressLocated in New York, NY1970S Purple & Blue Striped Poly Blend Satin Long Sleeve Day To Night DressCategory
1970s Casual Dresses
- 1990S GIANNI VERSACE Style Silk Crepe De Chine Leopard Baroque Scarf Print DressLocated in New York, NY1990S GIANNI VERSACE Style Silk Crepe De Chine Leopard Baroque Scarf Print DressCategory
1990s Casual Dresses
- 1960'S Pyschedelic Floral Cotton Long Sleeve Mod Dress With PocketsLocated in New York, NY1960'S Pyschedelic Floral Cotton Long Sleeve Mod Dress With PocketsCategory
1960s Casual Dresses
- MORPHEW COLLECTION Peach Silk Jersey Dress With Cutout Front & 1930S Floral TrimBy MorphewLocated in New York, NYMORPHEW COLLECTION Peach Silk Jersey Dress With Cutout Front & 1930S Floral Trim MORPHEW COLLECTION is made entirely by hand in our NYC Ateliér of rare antique materials sourced from...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Casual Dresses
- 1970S SAKS 5TH AVENUE Navy Silk Chiffon Ruffled GownLocated in New York, NY1970S SAKS 5TH AVENUE Navy Silk Chiffon Ruffled GownCategory
1970s Formal Gowns