1991 AZZEDINE ALAIA 'TATI' dress
View Similar Items
1991 AZZEDINE ALAIA 'TATI' dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: M (NA)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Fransisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU81995992
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.
- 1990's LEONARD silk jersey leopard printed draped dressBy LeonardLocated in San Fransisco, CAVivid, leopard-printed, silk-jersey dress with draped cut designed by Leonard dating to the 1990's. No size is indicated however this would best fit a US 8-10. Approximate measuremen...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- 1970's EMILIO PUCCI archery print silk jersey dress with hand stitchingBy Emilio PucciLocated in San Fransisco, CAVivid yellow silk jersey dress with whimsical archery print and hand stitched and hand pleated detail designed by Emilio Pucci dating to the 1970's. Fits a US 4 or 6. Approximate mea...Category
1970s Italian Day Dresses
- 1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA black crocheted dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAClassic, jet-black, knit wool dress with crocheted detail from Alaia dating to the 1990's. Size 'S'. Approximate measurements: bust 32", waist 22", hips 32' and length is 33" - howev...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1970's SCOTT BARRIE black jersey dressBy Scott BarrieLocated in San Fransisco, CAJet-black, jersey dress designed by Scott Barrie dating to the 1970's. Dress fits a size 4. Dress measures approximately 32" at bust, 13" at smallest point of shoulders and 15.5" alo...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
- 1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA black sleeveless dress with ruffled hemlineBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAVery rare jet black dress with scalloped trim and semi sheer skirt with decorative diamond embroidered hemline from Azzedine Alaia dating to the early 1990's, Dress is labeled a size...Category
Late 20th Century French Day Dresses
- 1990's LANVIN navy polka dotted dress with three-quarter sleevesBy Lanvin ParisLocated in San Fransisco, CANavy polka dotted dress with three-quarter sleeves designed by Lanvin dating to the 1990's. French size 36. Approximate measurements: bust 32", waist 28.5", fully hips, arm length fr...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- Moroccan Orange Kaftan Maxi Dress Caftan Size LargeLocated in North Hollywood, CAElegant Moroccan caftan orange color with embroidered trim, circa 1970s. Caftan Gown, Tangerine Round contrast neckline; button-loop placket. Long bell sleeves. Relaxed silhouette. Straight skirt and hem. This long maxi dress kaftan trim is embroidered and embellished entirely by hand. One of a kind evening Moroccan Middle Eastern dress...Category
20th Century Moroccan Kaftans
$360 Sale Price20% Off - Badgley Mischka Collection Coral Jersey Cut-Out Sides Long Dress NWT Size 4By Badgley MischkaLocated in Palm Springs, CAA sexy slither of a dress designed by the team of Badgley Mischka for the collection label. (higher end). Cut-out sides above waist show a hint of skin. Flattering draped sides on wa...Category
2010s Chinese Cocktail Dresses
- A French Pleated Printed Silk Crepe Dress Circa 1970Located in Toulon, FRCirca 1970 France Elegant timeless dress in printed silk crepe by an anonymous French designer dating from the 1970s. Straight dress with long sleeve a...Category
1970s French Casual Dresses
- ALEXANDER'S c.1960's Deep Goldenrod Sequin Embellish Mod Sleeveless Shift DressLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage c.1960's Alexander's deep goldenrod knit shift dress. Sleeveless with round neckline. Abstract green sequined detail on front wrapping around lower back of dress. Black trim...Category
1960s Italian Shift Cocktail Dresses
- EMILIO PUCCI c.1960s Orange Abstract Signature Print Jersey V-Neck Dress Size 10By Emilio PucciLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage c.1960s Emilio Pucci orange, pink, brown, gold, and ivory abstract signature print silk jersey dress. Empire waist. V-neckline at front. Three-quarter length sleeves. Above t...Category
1960s Italian Empire Waist Dresses
- Gianni Versace " versus" 1990s vintage matching belt orange cotton mini dressBy Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in Antwerp, BEThis is a 90s vintage Gianni Versace "versus" gold snap front button closure, gold western collar tips made of orange linen mini dress with its original m...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
$456 Sale Price40% Off