What is Azzedine Alaia known for?

Azzedine Alaia, a French fashion designer known as the “King of Cling,” is known for his body-hugging designs that were sculpted to celebrate the female form. On 1stDibs, find a variety of dresses from Azzedine Alaia.

Alaia Dress 1990

Azzedine Alaia Spring 1994 Houpette Chenille Green Dress

By Azzedine Alaïa

Located in Hertfordshire, GB

Vintage Azzedine Alaïa Spring 1994 "Houpette" Dress - versions seen on the runway, in campaign images & held in museums Dark forest green chenille knitted dress Very soft plush st...

Category

1990s Day Dresses

Azzedine Alaia Spring 1990 Black Strappy Bodysuit

By Azzedine Alaïa

Located in Hertfordshire, GB

Vintage Azzedine Alaïa Spring 1990 - dress version seen on the runway Black bodysuit with triple strap detail Ribbed texture on sides Popper clasp Stretch fabric Size small ...

Category

1990s Lingerie

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AZZEDINE ALAIA vintage dress

By Azzedine Alaïa

Located in Leonardo, NJ

Vintage Azzedine Alaia Heavy Knit Long Sleeve Mini Dress. New with original ALAIA store tag! Never worn totally flawless. Tag says M but this def fits like a L or even an XL! Ruched ...

Category

1990s Mini Dress

ALAIA denim dress

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ALAIA denim dress

By Azzedine Alaïa

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Beautiful ALAIA fitted denim dress. Fit size : 0/XS Bust : 30" / 76.2 cm Waist : 24"/ 60.96 cm Hip : 32" / 81.28 cm Length from shoulder to hem : 37" / 93.98cm

Category

1990s French Day Dresses

Size: S but also fits XS

JOHN GALLIANO 1999 Vintage Sheer Knit Black Pointelle Cocktail Dress

By John Galliano

Located in Leonardo, NJ

John Galliano Vintage SS99 Jet black open knit pointelle Adjustable velvet tie at bottom Pullover Straps have been taken up, but can be let back out Size Small, also fits XS Excellen...

Category

1990s Cocktail Dresses

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Alaia Dress 1990 For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact vintage or contemporary alaia dress 1990 you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Many people prefer Black, but fashion is all about individuality — you can find Gray, Red and more options on these pages. If you’re looking for a alaia dress 1990 from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. When shopping for these accessories, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men or unisex today than there are for women.

How Much is a Alaia Dress 1990?

On average, a alaia dress 1990 on 1stDibs sells for $1,705, while they’re typically $248 on the low end and $31,996 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Azzedine Alaïa for sale on 1stDibs

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.

Finding the Right Clothing for You

Start building your collection of covetable and iconic vintage clothing today — no matter where you roam, there is a curated selection of designer dresses and gowns, sweaters, shirts, dazzling shoes and more on 1stDibs that will keep you covered in the hottest styles from head to toe.

From elegant museum-worthy vintage Chanel dresses and jackets to audacious T-shirts and trousers from provocative punk designer Vivienne Westwood, one thing is abundantly clear: If the clothing for sale on 1stDibs could talk, it would certainly make a statement.

For fashion lovers, the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers — think John Galliano and Roberto Cavalli — but maybe ‘80s accessories are among your (guilty?) pleasures.

Playful, boldly colored coats and outerwear from Moschino, Ralph Lauren and other titans of the era can take a simpler ensemble to the next level, while chic and practical suits from the likes of Christian Dior and Balmain endure for haute couture advocates and beyond.

And vintage is the name of the game on today’s red carpets, too. Celebrity stylists are turning to archival pieces created by the likes of Bob Mackie, Thierry Mugler and Jean-Paul Gaultier as alternatives to new gowns plucked straight off the runway. Wearing such sought-after items gives celebrities instant allure and suggests a personal style that’s not only achingly glamorous but intellectually informed and influenced by a love of craftsmanship.

Those seeking contemporary luxury looks and in-demand street-style fits can indulge in designs by Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu and Loro Piana, while pieces from Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace endure as examples of fashion’s most covetable goods.

The future — and glamorous past — of fashion is yours for the wearing. Find vintage clothing and accessories for sale on 1stDibs, including designs by Balenciaga, Valentino, Celine, Loewe and more.

Questions About Azzedine Alaïa

What is Azzedine Alaia known for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
Azzedine Alaia, a French fashion designer known as the “King of Cling,” is known for his body-hugging designs that were sculpted to celebrate the female form. On 1stDibs, find a variety of dresses from Azzedine Alaia.