Alaia Camel Silk Knit Sleeveless Flare Dress - 40
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:West Palm Beach, FL
- 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: West Palm Beach, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Louis Feraud Multi Silk Print Shift DressBy Louis FeraudLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLouis Feraud Multi Silk Print Shift Dress - 12 This vintage silk multi-colored printed dress is in excellent condition. The dress is full of bright colored oranges, lime, reds, and purple squares. There is a floral print as well as a boarder print. There is a mock collar in the front of the dress and there are seven golden signed buttons with a magenta glass...Category
1980s German Day Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta White and Red Floral Print Cotton DressBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in West Palm Beach, FLOscar de la Renta White & Red Floral Print Cotton Dress - 6. This dress is in excellent condition and is around knee-length. Measurements: Bust- 31" Waist- 31.5" Hips- 36.5" Length...Category
1990s American Day Dresses
- Fendi Taupe and Peach Cotton Knit Dress - 42By FendiLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Fendi cotton knit dress is light taupe with peach trim on the collar and neckline. The skirt has slight pleating and a taupe, peach, black, and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Dries Van Noten Taupe Silk Slip Dress - 42By Dries van NotenLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Dries Van Noten slip dress is taupe silk. It has spaghetti straps and a v-neck. This dress is in excellent condition. Measurements Bust: 34" Waist: 38" Hips: 43" Length (...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Day Dresses
- Victoria Beckham Ivory Dress-4By Victoria BeckhamLocated in West Palm Beach, FLVictoria Beckham Ivory Dress-4. This beautiful sleeveless dress is in great condition. It has lace cutout details and a small side slip. The dress is a s...Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Cocktail Dresses
- Chloe Beige Silk Dress - 38By ChloéLocated in West Palm Beach, FLChloe Beige Silk Dress - 38 This gorgeous classic silk dress is in excellent condition. The dress is lined in silk and has a left side zipper. There are o...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Versace Spring 1996 dressBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Brooklyn, NYBeautiful Gianni Versace Couture 60s inspired cream dress from Spring Summer 1996 collection. The dress is knee length, with thin adjustable belts including classic Versace...Category
1990s Day Dresses
- Chanel Boutique Vintage Oversize Maxi Dress Shirt Cover Up 92P 1992By Chanel Boutique, ChanelLocated in Merced, CAChanel rare vintage oversize maxi dress shirt adorned with full length Chanel CC interlocking buttons and abstract print throughout. This is from Chanel Spring 1992 runway collection...Category
19th Century French Maxi Dresses
- Blumarine black sik dressBy BlumarineLocated in Rubiera, REBlumarine - Anna Molinari Cocktail black chiffon multi-layered silk dress with thin straps. Drapery on the bust in pink silk which continues over th...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- PRADA dress "Beauty Mask"By PradaLocated in Rubiera, REPRADA Spring/Summer 2014 collection Dress with printed motif from the work "BEAUTY MASK" by the French artist Jeanne Detallante Similar dress from the same collection exhibited at th...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- RARE 1980s Ted Lapidus Paris Boutique Floral Haute Couture DressBy Ted LapidusLocated in Scottsdale, AZAmazing 1980s/90s hard to find Ted Lapidus haute couture floral dress! Floral printed cotton with slim fitted bodice and flounce layered ruffle peplum skirt. Halter straps with butto...Category
1980s French Casual Dresses
- Rikma Angel Wing 1970's Striped DressBy RikmaLocated in Scottsdale, AZWe're falling in love with Israeli designer Rikma- and you will too with this amazing 1970s dress! Made of a thick woven cotton fabric in Rikma's signature striped pattern in shades of purple, yellow, and black; this dress features a deep v-neck, billowy sleeves, sexy side slits, a matching bralette, and a tassel rope belt...Category
1970s Israeli Kaftans