Alaia Cream Knit Dress
View Similar Items
Alaia Cream Knit Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 36 in (91.44 cm)Marked Size: 40 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:Wool, Cotton, Polyamid
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bridgehampton, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 2-24771stDibs: LU20121189002
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.
- Women´s Beige Miu Miu Sleeveless Dress Size 38By Miu MiuLocated in Bridgehampton, NYWomen´s Beige Miu Miu Sleeveless Dress Size 38Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Nicole Miller Women´s Green Dress Size 6By Nicole MillerLocated in Bridgehampton, NYNicole Miller Women´s Green Dress Size 6Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Formal Gowns
- Roberto Cavalli Women´s Orange/Pink Dress Size 40By Roberto CavalliLocated in Bridgehampton, NYRoberto Cavalli Women´s Orange/Pink Dress Size 40, Stretch Short sleeve, Floral Pattern and Green RosesCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Emilio Pucci Orange Short Sleeve Structured Dress Size 42By Emilio PucciLocated in Bridgehampton, NYEmilio Pucci Shift Orange Dress, Pleated Accents, Short Sleeve with V-Neck, Concealed Closure at side.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Rochas Sleeveless Dress Zipper Back Full Skirt Size 38By RochasLocated in Bridgehampton, NYRochas Sleeveless Dress Zipper Back Full Skirt Size 38Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Emilio Pucci Short Sleeve Pucci Print Pattern Dress Size 42By Emilio PucciLocated in Bridgehampton, NYEnsure that your day-to-day style is as glamorous as you are with this Pucci-Print Dress from Emilio Pucci. From 2000´s Collection Designed to Inspire the Imagination, This Pattern W...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton DelphosBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived. Named after a Greek classical sculpt...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Price Upon Request - 1980s Oleg Cassini Size 12 / 14 Sequin Leopard Animal Cheetah Print 80s DressBy Oleg Cassini, Black Tie by Oleg CassiniLocated in San Diego, CAFabulous 1980s vintage OLEG CASSINI fully sequined leopard print short sleeve silk dress ! Features thousands of hand-sewn gold and black sequins throughout the entire dress. Hidden zipper up the back with hook-and-eye closure. Great belted or alone. The pictured 90s Jane August...Category
1980s Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Victor Costa Cold Shoulder Flower Print Vintage 70s Rayon Boho DressBy Victor CostaLocated in San Diego, CAChic 1970s VICTOR COSTA flower printed cold shoulder boho rayon dress ! Features an ivory backdrop with burnt orange and blue flowers printed throughout. Matching detachable belt can...Category
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
$700 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Mr Blackwell Khaki + Orange Linen Embroidered Vintage 60s Shift DressBy Mr. BlackwellLocated in San Diego, CAChic 1960s MR. BLACKWELL khaki and orange Irish linen and chiffon shift / sheath dress! Features a tailored bodice with embroidered orange, brown and white flowers throughout. Orange...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage Gianfranco Ferre 1990s Brown + White Zebra Jeweled BodyCon Jersey DressBy Gianfranco FerréLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing vintage GIANFRANCO FERRE (early 90s) brown and white abstract zebra printed rayon jersey BodyCon dress! Features incredible Amber and green crystal jewels below bust. Intrica...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1960s Lilli Diamond Canary Yellow and White Lace Silk Vintage 60s DressBy Lilli DiamondLocated in San Diego, CAChic 1960s LILLI DIAMOND canary yellow and white silk lace dress! Features a fitted bodice with a ruffled skirt. White pom poms at the collar and each tier of ruffles. Hidden zipper ...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses