Azzedine Alaïa Vintage Fitted Mini Dress
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaïa Vintage Fitted Mini Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU73636667541
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.
- Bvlgari Octo Verlcissimo 42MM Stainless Steel And Alligator WatchBy BulgariLocated in London, GBThis ‘Octo Verlcissimo' 42mm timepiece by Bvlgari has been crafted at the brand's Swiss atelier from stainless steel with an intricate automatic movement...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Ulysse Nardin Diver Black Sea 46MM Steel And Rubber WatchBy Ulysse NardinLocated in London, GBThis ‘Diver Black Sea' 46mm timepiece by Ulysse Nardin has been crafted at the brand's Swiss atelier from steel with an intricate automatic movement and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- Azzedine Alaïa Haute Couture Wool Blend Gown LargeBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GB
- Azzedine Alaïa Haute Couture Wool Blend Gown.
- Black.
- Long Sleeve.
- V-Neck.
- Zip fastening - Back. <...
Category21st Century and Contemporary Evening Gowns
- Chanel 2014 Boy Medium Python And Leather Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBChanel 2014 Boy medium python and leather shoulder bag. Made from orange python and leather with matching leather interior and antiqued gold-tone hardware and chain shoulder straps. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Bottega Veneta The Pouch Large Gathered Leather ClutchBy Bottega VenetaLocated in London, GBBottega Veneta The Pouch Large Gathered Leather Clutch. Green. Magnetic fastening - Top. Comes with - dustbag. Height: 8.8 In. Width: 14. 4 In...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clutches
- Fendi Linda Selleria Large Metallic Textured Leather Shoulder BagBy FendiLocated in London, GBThis 'Linda Selleria' Large shoulder bag by Fendi comes with two sturdy shoulder straps, so it works for day, made in Italy from metallic-pink textured-leather, it's finished with th...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld orange and brown knit and tweed jacket dress, fw 1995By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel orange and brown rib knit wool dress ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Checked boucle jacket attached to front of dress ▪ CC logo buttons ▪ 4 front pockets ▪ Long knitted ...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- Dolce & Gabbana gold lace and python shirt dress, ss 2005By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana gold lace and python shirt dress ▪ Python trim ▪ 4 front python flap pockets ▪ Matching python belt ▪ Rolled-up sleeves ▪ Tortoise butt...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Worlds End by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren toga dress, ss 1982By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ A rare Worlds End toga dress ▪ Designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren ▪ Cotton-jersey bodice ▪ Open sides with ties to the waist ▪ Asymmetric sleeves ▪ Cream and ora...Category
1980s English Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Azzedine Alaia black white polka dot sleeveless flare babydoll mini dress FR 36By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Paris, FRAzzedine Alaia sleeveless flared dress in black with white polka dot print Fitted upper which extends into a flared full skirt Concealed back zip Size: FR 36 with plenty of stretch...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Chloe S04 strapless plisse green silk chiffon layered bustier midi length dressBy ChloéLocated in Paris, FRChloe Spring Summer 2004 strapless plisse green silk dress Boning to the upper portion Cinched in waist Long rope ties with beaded ends wrap around the ne...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage cottagecore prairie cotton white red floral print halter backless dressLocated in Paris, FRA beautiful vintage dress most likely from the 1970's Cottagecore style maxi length dress in white with red, yellow and green floral print Halt...Category
1970s Maxi Dresses
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 Golden Saint Laurent Handbag Feels Like a Disco-Era Throwback (in the Best Way Possible)
If you're looking for an accessory that brings the party, this is it.