ALAIA Size S Gray Leopard Print Knit Fit Flair Ruffle Skirt Dress
View Similar Items
ALAIA Size S Gray Leopard Print Knit Fit Flair Ruffle Skirt Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Altered (not by designer). Tags removed. As-Is.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU16223392413
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.
- HERVE LEGER Size XXS Blue Rayon Blend A-Line Cocktail DressBy Herve LégerLocated in San Francisco, CAHERVE LEGER cocktail mini dress comes in blue rayon blend knit fabric featuring a strappy neckline, A-line shape, and a back zipper closure.Good Pre-Owned Condition. As Is. Garment ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- ALICE + OLIVIA Size 0 Black Beige Viscose Blend Two Tone Cocktail DressBy Alice + OliviaLocated in San Francisco, CAALICE + OLIVIA dress comes in a black & beige lace viscose blend featuring a open back, long sleeves, single button, back slit, and a back zip up closure.Very Good Pre-Owned Conditio...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- DOLCE & GABBANA Size 4 Silver Silk Blend Sleeveless Cocktail DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in San Francisco, CADOLCE & GABBANA dress comes in a silver silk blend featuring a ruched top, sleeveless, slit pockets, back slit, and a back zip up closure. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-Owned Conditio...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA Size 4 Raspberry Viscose Blend Fitted Cocktail DressBy Maison Martin MargielaLocated in San Francisco, CAMAISON MARTIN MARGIELA cocktail dress comes in a raspberry viscose blend featuring a ribbed panel design, long sleeves, and a side zipper closure. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-Owned ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- SAINT LAURENT Size 4 White Viscose Strapless Cutout Cocktail DressBy Saint LaurentLocated in San Francisco, CASAINT LAURENT cocktail dress comes in a white viscose featuring a cutout front, strapless neckline, vented back, midi length, and a back zip up closure. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Dresses
- LOUIS VUITTON Size S Beige Ecru Wool Blend Ruffled Fitted Cocktail DressBy Louis VuittonLocated in San Francisco, CALOUIS VUITTON cocktail dress comes in a beige wool blend a sleeveless style, a-line, ruffled skirt, gold tone hard ware, ad a back zipper closure. Made in Italy.From Louis Vuitton: I...Category
21st Century and Contemporary 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
- 1980s Zandra Rhodes Abstract Motif Drop Waist Silk DressBy Zandra RhodesLocated in Scottsdale, AZLooking For The Perfect 80s Dress? Well It's Arrived! Circa 1980s, this Zandra Rhodes asymmetrical drop waist dress features a cream and black pattern of flowers, swirls and tribal i...Category
1980s English Evening Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Silk Beaded Maxi DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis is a mid-century gem! This Yves Saint Laurent gown has details upon details. The most remarkable being the intricate beaded creating a pattern around the round neckline and the ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Maxi Dress
- Alexander McQueen lilac wool button-up sweater dress, fw 1996By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GB▪ Alexander McQueen lilac wool sweater dress ▪ Turtleneck ▪ Opening across bust line fastening with multiple buttons ▪ Pleated seam at centre-back ▪ Worn ...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Junya Watanabe floral cotton dress with harness straps and backpack, ss 2003By Junya WatanabeLocated in London, GB▪ Junya Watanabe cotton dress ▪ All-over floral pattern with pale blue background ▪ Puff sleeves ▪ Adjustable white harness straps ▪ Detachable backpack ▪ Double layered skirt ▪...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Day Dresses