1990's Azzedine Alaia Sheer Ivory Knit Bodycon Wiggle Mini Dress
View Similar Items
1990's Azzedine Alaia Sheer Ivory Knit Bodycon Wiggle Mini Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: unknown (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Flawless! Missing size/fabric tag.
- Seller Location:Yukon, OK
- Reference Number:Seller: 18621stDibs: LU40627353992
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.
- Vintage 1990's Dolce & Gabbana White Lace Trim Bodycon Mini DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: 1990's Dolce & Gabbana CONDITION: Good- light wear- no holes- faint mark on strap- please see last photo. COUNTRY MADE: It...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- F/W 1997 Gucci by Tom Ford Sheer White Asymmetrical Halter Mini DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: F/W 1997 Gucci by Tom Ford CONDITION: Good- Lining was removed and tags were re-attached. FABRIC: Viscose & Spandex COUNTR...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- S/S 1996 Gianni Versace Sheer Pearl Ivory Nylon Bodycon Medusa Logo DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: S/S 1996 Gianni Versace CONDITION: Good- main label is missing FABRIC: Nylon & Spandex COUNTRY MADE: Italy SIZE: 42 MEASUR...Category
1990s Italian Casual Dresses
- 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford White Bodycon One Shoulder Mini DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford CONDITION: Good- no flaws but missing main label FABRIC: Viscose & polyester COUNTRY: Italy SIZE: Ta...Category
Early 2000s Italian Mini Dresses
- S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Plunging One Shoulder Nude/Pink Knit Bodycon DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford CONDITION: Good- no holes or stains FABRIC: Rayon & Polyester- very soft and stretchy! COUNTRY M...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2003 Roberto Cavalli Black & Red Silk Print Maxi Dress & Kimono JacketBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Yukon, OK**THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING WITH MES DEUX FILLES** DESIGNER: S/S 2003 Roberto Cavalli CONDITION: Dress is excellent/flawless- kimono is good with only minor imperfections- see last ph...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Leonard of Paris Fuschia Multi Color Silk Chiffon Strapless GownBy Leonard of ParisLocated in New York, NYVintage Leonard of Paris bright and flirty ruffled silk chiffon cocktail dress / evening gown, unmarked size, approximately US 6. Featuring four layer...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- HERMES Unworn Baroque Bodycon lycra Mini dress, 90sBy HermèsLocated in Genève, CHBeautiful vintage Hermès lycra sleeveless mini dress, from 90s period. This light turquoise/yellow/cream baroque print Hermes dress is in perfect conditio...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- ALEXANDER MCQUEEN green silk PLATOS ATLANTIS PRAYING MANTIS GOWN Dress LBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Zürich, CHAlexander McQueen 'Praying Mantis' empire down in green silk (100%) with a round neck and is sleeveless. This collector piece is from the SS 2010 Platos Atlantis collection. Flares f...Category
2010s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
$11,000 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Alberta Ferretti Gray Cotton Vintage Off Shoulder DressBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in Brindisi, BtAlberta Ferretti 90s vintage off shoulder dress. Short dress with sweetheart neckline, gray with white stitching. Zip closure along the chest, on th...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Antik Batik Pink Silk Leather Kaftan Blouson DressLocated in Brindisi, BtAntik Batik women's vintage short dress. Powder pink color, 100% silk, applications sewn by hand 100% leather. V-neckline, elasticated waist belt, lined. 1...Category
1990s Indian Tunics and Wrap Dresses
- Arnold Scaasi Vintage Dress Off Shoulder Floral Organza over Green silkBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage floral dress from designer Arnold Scaasi. The dress is in a beautiful floral printed organza over a rich green silk and has love...Category
20th Century Cocktail Dresses