Azzedine Alaia grey knitted wool skirt with leather harness, fw 1987
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: M/L (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14022379953
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: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Dolce & Gabbana Renaissance printed silk dress with draped skirt, ss 1990By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana evening dress with draped skirt ▪ Print: Transfiguration by Raphael (1516–1520) ▪ Four ties attached at the waistband which can b...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace black leather gold buckled skirt with animal print, fw 1994By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace black leather pencil skirt with multiple signature gold buckles on each side. Animal print at the front. Fall-Winter 1994Category
1990s Italian Skirts
- Tom Ford for Gucci fringed black leather skirt with cut out panels, S/S 1999By Tom Ford, GucciLocated in London, GB- Silk chiffon lining - Cut out panels - Fringed hem Spring-Summer 1999Category
1990s Italian Skirts
- Gianni Versace Spring-Summer 1994 black lambskin leather skirt with safety pinsBy Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace Spring-Summer 1994 black lambskin leather skirt with safety pinsCategory
1990s Italian Skirts
- Comme des Garcons Autumn-Winter 1989 black jersey smocked skirtBy Comme des Garçons, Rei KawakuboLocated in London, GBComme des Garcons Autumn-Winter 1989 black jersey smocked skirt with silver metal zipperCategory
1980s Japanese Skirts
- Jean Paul Gaultier black pleated skirt with tan leather waistband, ss 2000By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in London, GBPresenting a stunning Jean Paul Gaultier skirt from the Spring-Summer 2000 collection, a true representation of the designer's bold and innovative style. This skirt exudes elegance a...Category
Early 2000s Italian Skirts
- Hermes Silk Jersey Horse Print SkirtBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Silk Jersey Horse Print Skirt from the 1970's. Simple gathered skirt from wide waistband. Printed with a checkerboard of different horse motifs on n...Category
1970s French Skirts
- Black knit pencil skirt with cut-work AlaïaBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack knit pencil skirt with cut-work. Knit composition: 90% wool, 5% stretch, 5% nylon. SIZE S on tag but fit MCategory
1990s Italian Skirts
- 1990S Black Draped Poly Blend Jersey Asymmetrical SkirtLocated in New York, NY1990S Black Draped Poly Blend Jersey Asymmetrical SkirtCategory
1990s A-Line Skirts
- Dolce & Gabbana Black Fine Wool Skirt, 1990sBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Port Hope, ONVery fine long wool skirt with a soft mesh lining and two pleats, one on the side and another 3/4 of the way on the back. The skirt has a nice weight and darting. It can be worn day ...Category
1990s Italian Pencil Skirts
- Isa Arfen Black Ruffle Maxi Skirt Size 10Located in Beverly Hills, CAProduct details: Featuring black ramie, ruffle detail, floor length, full length side slit, under shirts, side zip on the shorts and 2 hooks on the skirt closure. UK size 10. Made i...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ruffled Skirts
- Dolce and Gabbana Maroon Silk Pleated Balloon Fringe Long SkirtBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage Dolce and Gabbana red silk pleated balloon black fringe long skirt.. - Made in Italy. - Size 40. - 100% Silk.Category
1980s Italian Pleated Skirts
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 Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Ensemble Is Part Zsa Zsa Gabor, Part ‘Blade Runner’
As Burton steps away from the brand, it’s a fitting time to revisit one of her visionary designs.