ALAIA Dress Size 10 Black Cotton Gathered Back Skirt Collared Shirt
View Similar Items
ALAIA Dress Size 10 Black Cotton Gathered Back Skirt Collared Shirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 10 (US)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 751131stDibs: LU16221674513
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.
- GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Size 6 Black Coral Jacquard Polyester Blend Below Knee DressBy Giambattista ValliLocated in San Francisco, CAGIAMBATTISTA VALLI dress comes in a black & coral jacquard polyester blend with a slip liner featuring a shift style, bow detail, and a back zipper closure. Made in Italy. Very Good ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- ETRO Size 8 Charcoal Wool Embroidered Shift DressBy EtroLocated in San Francisco, CAETRO dress comes in a charcoal wool with embroidered designs featuring a pleated skirt, shift style, sleeveless, and a back zip up closure. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-Owned Conditi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- GIAMBATTISTA VALLI See Through Size S Black Viscose Blend DressBy Giambattista ValliLocated in San Francisco, CAGIAMBATTISTA VALLI below knee dress comes in black viscose blend featuring a see through aesthetic. Made in Italy. Excellent Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 42 Measurements...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- STELLA McCARTNEY Size 2 Black Viscose Pleated V-Neck DressBy Stella McCartneyLocated in San Francisco, CASTELLA McCARTNEY dress comes in a black viscose featuring a pleated style, a-line, slit pockets, short sleeves, and a back zipper closure. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- PORTS 1961 Size 4 Black Viscose Wrinkled Double Layer DressBy Ports 1961Located in San Francisco, CAPORTS 1961 dress comes in a black wrinkled viscose featuring double layer style and no sleeves. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 4 Measurements: Shoulder: 14 inches B...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- VALENTINO Size 4 Pink Cotton Nylon Lace Short Sleeve DressBy ValentinoLocated in San Francisco, CAVALENTINO dress comes in a pink lace cotton / nylon with a slip liner featuring an a-line style, short sleeves, slit pockets, v-neck, and a side zipper closure. Made in Italy. Very G...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- ALAÏA 1990 black knitted mini dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHAlaïa knitted mini dress with sheer raised edge skirt -Back closing with a hidden set zipper -Long sleeves -Nude knitted lining -Made in Italy -100% V...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- ALBERTO BINI 1990 leather mini dress with gold tone Lion NEW with tagBy AlbertoLocated in Genève, CHThis vintage dress from Alberto Bini is coming directly from the 90s, and it's also a beautiful ode to Versace universe. -Lion detail in metal gold tone ...Category
1980s French Mini Dress
- Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Golden Eagle Hawk Kendall Jenner Skirt Top SetBy Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil, Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Vintage Japanese Golden Eagle Koi Fish Kendall Jenner Wave Yellow Mesh Sheer Transparent Wrap T-shirt Skirt Top Dress Golden Japanese Eagle...Category
1990s Maxi Dresses
$1,999 Sale Price30% OffFree Shipping - ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Textured Leather Bubble DressBy Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueenLocated in Berlin, BEIncredible Alexander McQueen textured leather dress with the most amazing dramatic silhouette. This high-quality dress has the most incredible round silhouette - It is made from a textured leather and features a round neckline with beautiful seam-line details, large round puff...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses
- SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE 2014 Black Leather Mini DressBy Hedi Slimane for Yves Saint Laurent, Saint LaurentLocated in Berlin, BEThe most incredible leather mini-dress by Saint Laurent from 2014, designed by Hedi Slimane. This exceptional sleeveless mini dress is made from a soft lamb leather and features gor...Category
2010s French Mini Dress
- Vintage Dolce & Gabbana black mini dress with crystal trim details S/S1995By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBVintage Dolce & Gabbana black mini dress with crystal details S/S1995. The dress is in good condition just light signs of use around the crystals. ▪ Black rayon chiffon with lining ▪...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
$1,209 Sale Price48% Off