AZZEDINE ALAIA red basket weave shrug
View Similar Items
AZZEDINE ALAIA red basket weave shrug
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S (NA)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:knit
- Condition:excellent.
- Seller Location:San Fransisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU11013181702
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.
- CERRUTI gray streamlined wool coatLocated in San Fransisco, CAGray felted wool streamlined coat from Cerruti 1881 dating to the late 1980's. Fits a Size 6-8. Unlined. Made in France. Excellent condition.Category
1980s French Coats and Outerwear
- 2000's CUSTOM MADE tan & purple reversible shearling coat with fox trimLocated in San Fransisco, CACustom made tan and vivid periwinkle purple reversible shearling coat with fox trim dating to the early 2000's. Fits a size 6 to a 10. Approximate measurements are as follows" 42" bu...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Coats and Outerwear
- RICK OWENS black jacket with leather sleeves and asymmetrical hemlineBy Rick OwensLocated in San Fransisco, CABlack, soft wool jacket with satin trim and leather sleeves from Rick Owens. Italian size 38 which best fits a US 2. Approximate measurements: bust 33.5", hem width 38", arm length f...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Coats
- GEOFFREY BEENE red wool blanket coat with faceted buttonsBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in San Fransisco, CAUnique red blanket coat with black stripe, silver piping and unique faceted buttons from Geoffrey Beene dating to the 1980's. Labeled a U.S. size 6 however it can fit many sizes to t...Category
1980s American Coats
- 70's Dessinè par Jean-Charles de Castelbajac blanket jacket with floral liningBy Jean-Charles de CastelbajacLocated in San Fransisco, CAVery rare, tartan blanket jacket lined in floral calico fabric designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac dating to the 1970's . Very rare "Dessinè par Jean-Charles de Castelbajac' labe...Category
Late 20th Century French Coats
- 1970's GUCCI navy blue cotton trench coat with enameled GG buttonsBy GucciLocated in San Fransisco, CAVery rare, navy blue trench coat with enameled GG buttons designed by Gucci dating to the 1970's. Labeled an Italian 42, however this best fits a US 2-6. Approximate measurements: sh...Category
1970s Italian Trench Coats
- Christian Dior Golden Sable Fur CoatBy Christian DiorLocated in Amsterdam, NLRare Christian Dior Paris vintage coat with golden sable fur Collectors item We offer more exclusive fur items, view our frontstore. Details: Trimm...Category
20th Century French Coats and Outerwear
- S/2016 look # 2 NEW VERSACE RED SEMI LINE 100% SILK BLAZER 50 - 40By VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXVERSACE Spring/Summer 2016 look # 2 Red silk blazer from Versace A graphic print and a two gold-tone Medusa front button fastening. Three front...Category
2010s Italian Coats and Outerwear
$2,246 Sale Price25% Off - Verheyen London Serena Collarless Faux Fur Coat in Blue - Size uk 12By Verheyen LondonLocated in London, GBVerheyen London Serena Collarless Faux Fur Coat in Black - Size uk 12 Handmade in London, made with the highest quality faux fur on the market - you wouldn't even know it was fake,...Category
2010s Coats
$682 Sale Price22% Off - Vintage White Oversize CoatLocated in London, GBA wonderful vintage white coat with wonderful oversize buttons. The coat has a stand up collar, pockets on either side and turn back cuffs. It is fully lined. Measurements bust up to...Category
1970s Unknown Coats
- CHANEL black leather leather COSMOPOLITE Cape Jacket 36 XSBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CHChanel cpae in black calf skin with velvet trims in black rayon (98%) and silk (2%). Features a notched collar, arm slits that can be closed with concealed zippers, and pleats coming...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Capes
- CHANEL black white pink Double-Breasted Tweed Coat Jacket 38 SBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CHChanel plaid-tweed double-breasted coat in black, off.white, pink, lavender, lime, and red polyester (39%), acrylic (18%), rayon (14%), ramie (9%), cotton (9%), linen (8%), metal fib...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Car Coats