Black wool sweater with zip in the middle back and front pocket AlaÏa Circa 1980
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Width: 21.26 in (54 cm)Length: 29.53 in (75 cm)Marked Size: M (EU)Bust: 36.23 in (92 cm)Waist: 32.29 in (82 cm)Hip: 35.44 in (90 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 21.26 in (54 cm)
- Style:Circa 1980 (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:Black wool sweater with zip in the middle back and front pocket. Thin Shoulder-pad.
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
- Reference Number:
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: SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Black sweater in wool with batwing sleeve AlaÏaBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack sweater in wool with batwing sleeve. No fabric tag composition but wool. SIZE MCategory
1980s European Pullovers
- Beige and black jacquard wool and mohair knit coat-cardigan MissoniBy MissoniLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBeige and black jacquard wool and mohair knit coat-cardigan. Fabric composition: mohair, nylon and wool Pocket on both side and belt SIZE 44 / XLCategory
2010s Italian Cardigans
- Blue and green jacquard sweater with gold studs Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlue and green jacquard sweater with gold studs and a blue knit collarCategory
1980s French Pullovers
- Black evening sweater with lace and embroideries Christian Lacroix BazarBy Christian LacroixLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack evening sweater with lace, sequins and beads embroideries. Fabric composition: 29% wool, 35% rayon, 20% polyamide, 6% cashmere, 8% angora. See-t...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Sweaters
- Evening cardigan with metal mesh shoulder VersaceBy VersaceLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FREvening cardigan with metal mesh shoulder. Hidden button placket and fabric buttons. One snap in the middle top. Raglan. SIZE 42 (It) 38 (Fr) MCategory
Early 2000s Italian Cardigans
- Grey lurex see-through turtle neck sweater Salvatore FerragamoBy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRGrey lurex see-through turtle neck sweater. Knit composition: 84% rayon, 16% polyester SIZE SCategory
Early 2000s Italian Pullovers
- Gianni Versace Black Knitted Wool Side Silt SweaterBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Gianni Versace black knitted wool pullover sweater. You can also wear it as a dress. - Featuring knitted floral pattern. Different knitted pattern on the hem. - Sid...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Claude Montana Black Wool Patent Leather Trim High Neck Pullover SweaterBy Claude MontanaLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Claude Montana black wool high neck pullover sweater - Featuring vertical patent leather trim in front. - Size 40. - Height: 26.25 inches. Sleeve: 25 inches. ...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Vintage Gianni Versace Jeans Couture Green Wool CardiganBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Gianni Versace Jeans Couture green wool cardigan. Featuring a green faux fur collar, five black metal hardware buttons closure, two welt pockets. A well made wool cardi...Category
1990s Italian Cardigans
- Moschino Black and White Wool Check Pattern Turtleneck SweaterBy MoschinoLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Moschino black and white wool check pattern turtleneck pullover sweater. - Made in Italy. - Shoulder: 16 inches. Bust: 32 inches. Height: 28 inches. Sleeves: 26 inc...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Vintage Martine Sitbon Tricot Black with Silver Sequins Embroidered CardiganBy Martine SitbonLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Martine Sitbon Tricot black with silver sequins and embroidered cardigan. Featuring ribbed round collar and five buttons closure. A ...Category
1990s Italian Cardigans
- DRIES VAN NOTEN 100% merino wool black buttoned cardigan LBy Dries van NotenLocated in Hong Kong, NTDRIES VAN NOTEN 100% merino wool black buttoned cardigan L Reference: CELG/A00395 Brand: Dries Van Noten Material: Merino Wool Color: Black Pattern: Solid Closure: Button Made in: Ch...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Cardigans
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.
Carrie Bradshaw Would Approve of This Pierpaolo Piccioli for Moncler Puffer Ball Gown
An ensemble appropriate for the Met Gala or trudging through a blizzard? This is it.