Alaïa Black Mesh Hood
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Style:Circa 2000 (Of the Period)
- Period:2000-2009
- Material Notes:Many traces on the mesh.
- 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.
- Yves Saint Laurent Elastic Belt and Bakelite BuckleBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRYves Saint Laurent - Elastic belt and bakelite buckle. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 65 cm Width: 3 cm Condition: Good condition Seller...Category
1970s French Belts
- Wide Belt Composed of Passementerie and LurexLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRBelt composed of passementerie and lurex. No signature, it resembles Yves Saint Laurent's work. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 81 cm(31.89") x Width (2.75") Condition:...Category
1970s French Waist Belts
- Chanel Gold-Plated Metal and Mother-of-Pearl Cabochon Jewel BeltBy Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel - Gold-plated metal and mother-of-pearl cabochon jewel belt. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: from 78 cm to 82 cm Condition: Very good condition Seller Ref number...Category
1980s French Belts
- Chanel Green Knitted Scarf Bordered with Pink and Blue StripesBy ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel - Green knitted scarf bordered with pink and blue stripes. Label of the composition is not attached. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 200 cm Condition: Good condi...Category
2010s Scarves
- Ancient Belt in Gilded Metal with BuckleLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRGilded metal belt with a buckle decorated with blue and green glass paste elements. No signature, but it was manufactured by Gripoix workshop, probably for Maison Chanel in the 1930s...Category
20th Century French Waist Belts
- Chanel Belt of Pearly Pearls, 1983By ChanelLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRChanel - Belt of pearly pearls and gilded metal paved with a cabochon in red glass paste. Collection 1983. Additional information: Dimensions: Length: 77 cm Condition: Very good co...Category
1980s French Belts
- Black Faux Fur Hood Hat, 1960'sLocated in Atlanta, GAMod 1960's black faux fur hood with silk faille ties at the front. The fabulous faux look is actually an easy-to-care-for acrylic that is soft to the touch and drapes easily. The h...Category
1960s American Hoods
- Verheyen London Aurora Quilted Hood with TieBy Verheyen LondonLocated in London, GBVerheyen London Aurora Quilted Hood with Tie Handmade in Italy by expert artisans, this hood is made with 100% Nylon which is lightweight and water repellent. This luxury item is a...Category
2010s British Hoods
- Verheyen London Aurora Quilted Hood with TieBy Verheyen LondonLocated in London, GBVerheyen London Aurora Quilted Hood with Tie Handmade in Italy by expert artisans, this hood is made with 100% Nylon which is lightweight and water repellent. This luxury item is a...Category
2010s British Hoods
- Verheyen London Aurora Quilted Hood in Soft BlackBy Verheyen LondonLocated in London, GBAurora Quilted Hood Coat in Soft Black The Aurora Quilted Hood is made with 100% nylon in by expert Italian manufacturers is an investment piece for your wa...Category
2010s British Hoods
- Silk Chiffon with Metallic Gold "Gold Coins" Evening Pull-Over HoodLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully elegant silk chiffon with metallic gold threads "Gold Coins" evening pull-over hood can be worn as a elegant scarf during cocktails, then before getting into your ca...Category
1980s French Hats
- Jean Paul Gaultier Carnivalle Head Scarf F/W 1984By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in New York, NYJean Paul Gaultier Egon Schellie Carnivalle printed head scarf on a cotton jersey fleece fabrication from F/Winter 1984. The cut is a large hood with attac...Category
1980s French Hoods