Alaia Cream Sleeveless Fit & Flare Dress Sz L
About the Item
- Designer:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good pre-owned condition with exception of some spoiling on straps and under arms.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- 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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- ALAIA Black Knit Fit Flare Dress w/ Metallic Detail sz 40By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Black Knit Fit Flare Dress Features scoop neckline and black metallic textured stripe design Made in: Italy Color: Black Composition: 45% viscose, 35% wool,15% polyester, 5% ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Informal Dresses
- ALAIA Black Sleeveless Zigzag Trapeze Dress sz 42By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Black Sleeveless Zigzag Trapeze Dress Features micro-pleats throughout Made in: Italy Color: Black Composition: 90% viscose, 5% nylon, 5% polyester Lining: None Closure/o...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Babydoll Day Dresses
- Alaia Brown Wool Fit & Flare V-Neck Dress Sz FR42By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Brown Wool Fit & Flare V-Neck Dress Sz FR42 Made In: Italy Color: Brown Composition: 78% Wool, 12% polyester, 6% cupro, 4% nylon Lining: None Closure/opening: Back center zip ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Alaia Mauve Eyelet Fit and Flare Dress Sz FR42By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Mauve Eyelet Fit and Flare Dress Sz FR42 Features eyelet throughout Made In: Italy Color: Mauve / lavender Composition: 85% viscose, 10% polyester, 5% nylon Lining: None Closu...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Alaia Grey Sleeveless Fit & Flare V Neck Dress Sz LBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Grey Sleeveless Fit & Flare V Neck Dress Sz L Made In: Italy Color: Grey Materials: 50% cotton, 25% viscose, 20% nylon, 5% polyester Opening/Closure: Hidden back zipper Overal...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- Alaia Black Fit & Flare V Neck Sleeveless Dress W/ Crochet Hem Sz IT42By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Black Fit & Flare V Neck Sleeveless Dress W/ Crochet Hem Sz 42 Made In: Italy Color: Black Materials: 82% viscose, 10% polyester, 6% nylon 2% elastodiene Opening/Closure: Hid...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- Christian Dior by John Galliano floral silk and lace draped dress, fw 2005By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in London, GB▪ Christian Dior dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Apricot floral printed silk chiffon ▪ Velvet trim ▪ Lace bust ▪ Draped skirt ▪ Spaghetti straps ▪ Fabric buttons at the side ...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alexander McQueen striped cotton and lace dress with pleated skirt, ss 2005By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GB▪ Alexander McQueen dress ▪ Constructed from a fine cotton-silk fabric in two colour-ways of red, cream and blue stripes ▪ Ivory lace inserts and trim ▪ Low-waisted skirt made up of...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1960s Maggy Rouff Pink Silk DressBy Maggy RouffLocated in Paris, FRMaggy Rouff pink silk dress featuring a white ribbon detail, a center back zip opening, a silk lining. Label: Maggy Rouff - 14 Avenue Montaigne Paris...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- Antique Edwardian 1910s Vintage Ivory Net Tulle Dress W Soutache Embroidery TrimLocated in Portland, ORThis is an incredible vintage dress from the 1910's!! The soutache detail is so well done and we especially love the pretty three layers of soft netting . The base layer is solid wit...Category
Early 20th Century American Day Dresses
- Gianni Versace Fuchsia Floral One Shoulder DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Milano, ITFabulous one-shoulder short dress designed by Gianni Versace in the 1990s, made in Italy. ORIGINAL LABEL. The dress is very seductive, made entirely of a soft fuchsia fabric with a f...Category
1990s Italian Aesthetic Day Dresses
- D&G Vintage Leopard Mini DressBy D&G by DOLCE & GABBANALocated in Milano, ITSexy vintage dress designed by Dolce & Gabbana in the 1990s, made in Italy. ORIGINAL LABEL. The dress is a mini dress, reaching above the knee. It h...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses