ALAIA
View Similar Items
ALAIA
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: SMALL (US)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU130716451708
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.
- Junya Watanabe Burgundy Deco Print Parachute Top 2003By Junya WatanabeLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Junya Watanabe black faux suede new hippie top featuring cutout armholes, extra long sleeves, slash front panel, fringe cuffs, and ...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Shirts
- Junya Watanabe Black Braided & Fringe Top 2014By Junya WatanabeLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Junya Watanabe blue ruffle linen top featuring a ruffle collar, pleats along the front and back of the top, and puff sleeves. Juny...Category
2010s Japanese Blouses
- Junya Watanabe Black New Hippie Fringe Top 2014By Junya WatanabeLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Junya Watanabe black faux suede new hippie top featuring cutout armholes, extra long sleeves, slash front panel, fringe cuffs, and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Blouses
- Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Black & Red Silk Ruffle BlousewBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Yves Saint Laurent black silk blouse with red trim, button front, and ruffle collar. Excellent Condition. Size: 42Category
1970s French Blouses
- Vintage Versace Black & Brass Beaded Top 1990By Gianni VersaceLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Gianni Versace heavily embellished brass colored beaded top that falls off the shoulder into a cap sleeve and side zip closure. Collection 1990. Excellent Vintage Condition....Category
1990s Italian Shirts
- Yves Saint Laurent YSL Multicolor Plaid Silk Blouse 1980sBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Yves Saint Laurent red, yellow and blue plaid silk button-front blouse. Yves Saint Laurent Size 38 Measurements: Shoulders 16”, B...Category
1980s French Blouses
- Gianni Versace black and white polkadot silk ruffled shirt dress, ss 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace black and white polkadot printed silk shirt dress with ruffled trim. Spring-Summer 1993Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianfranco Ferre silver lamé lace embellished mini dress, ss 2006By Gianfranco FerréLocated in London, GB▪ Gianfranco Ferre silver lamé lace embellished mini dress ▪ Embellished with turquoise stones and metal studs and beads ▪ Turtle neck ▪ Silk back with waist ties ▪ Side slits ▪ Can...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Art Deco 1920s flapper beadwork bandeau top, showgirlLocated in NEWARK, GBThis vintage 1920's beadwork bandeau top is just something else! True flapper showgirl style it is a bandeau or tube style top covering the bust with glass beaded design and metal t...Category
Early 20th Century British Blouses
- Edwardian Black Silk Chiffon Kimono Sleeve Blouse With Asian Floral Pattern, MeLocated in New York, NYEdwardian Black Silk Chiffon Kimono Sleeve Blouse With Asian Floral Pattern, Metallic Lace & Beaded TasselsCategory
Early 1800s Unknown Blouses
- Gianni Versace multicoloured oroton metal chainmail evening tunic, fw 1984By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace multicoloured Oroton chainmail evening tunic ▪ 100% Aluminium, 100% Silk ▪ Wide sleeves ▪ Silk trim ▪ Size Small - Medium ▪ Fall-Winter 1984Category
1980s Italian Blouses
- John Galliano navy pinstripe silk shirred blouse and fishtail skirt set, ss 2002By John GallianoLocated in London, GB▪ John Galliano navy and cream silk blouse and skirt set ▪ Deconstructed blouse with shirred detail ▪ Matching mid-length fishtail skirt with black cotton Broderie Anglaise trim at h...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns