AZZEDINE ALAIA dress pale putty toned pink superb 38 4 NEW
View Similar Items
AZZEDINE ALAIA dress pale putty toned pink superb 38 4 NEW
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU588224844
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.
- Gucci Dress Wide Gold Cuff Open Slit Sleeve Shoulder to Cuff 40 / 6By GucciLocated in Miami, FLStriking Gucci long sleeve fitted black dress with a high round neck. Sleeves are cut open from the shoulder to the wrist on the outside with a 4.5" long by 2" wide gold cuff...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Louis Vuitton Dress Black Monogram Lace Detail 36 / 4 NewBy Louis VuittonLocated in Miami, FLChic Louis Vuitton dress with beautifully detailed Monogram lace from neckline to top of bust and sleeve. Dress has a subtle A-line. Bold gold zip with embossed pull at rear. Embroid...Category
2010s French Shift Dresses
- Peter Pilotto Dress Vivid Print Halter Style Beautiful Details 6 New w/ TagBy Peter PilottoLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Peter Pilotto abstract print dress with beautiful body flattering details. Empire and waist detail gives the illusion of a halter dress in front. Front 'skirt' ...Category
2010s English Day Dresses
- Louis Vuitton Silver Metallic Detail Floral Red Metallic Keyholes Dress SBy Louis VuittonLocated in Miami, FLLouis Vuitton stretch dress in black and grey with abstract floral print accented with silver metallic throughout. 2 Round keyholes in front trimmed in red metallic. Form fitting and...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sheath Dresses
- Chloe Dress Striped Charcoal and Vanilla A-Line Modern 38 / 4By ChloéLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Chloe charcoal and vanilla striped fresh A-line dress. Sleeveless with contemporary charcoal and vanilla stripes. V neckline with low hidden in-seam slash pockets. Bold rear zip with embossed gold pull...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- Valentino Dress Asymmetrical Ruffle Hem Shoulder Waist Detail MBy ValentinoLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Valentino fabulous black dress with terrific stitching detail and angled ruffle hemline. Sleeves have rolled fabric structural detail. Right waist has subtle r...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- 1970S Purple & Blue Floral Rayon Boho Loose Size DressLocated in New York, NY1970S Purple & Blue Floral Rayon Boho Loose Size DressCategory
1970s Casual Dresses
- 1960S White Floral Cotton Jacquard Sateen Mod Dress XLLocated in New York, NY1960S White Floral Cotton Jacquard Sateen Mod Dress XLCategory
1960s Casual Dresses
- 1970S Pyschedelic Floral Wool Jersey Dress With Rayon LiningLocated in New York, NY1970S Pyschedelic Floral Wool Jersey Dress With Rayon LiningCategory
1970s Casual Dresses
- Vintage 1930's Cartwright Ivory Striped Silk Rayon Cut-Out Maxi Dress & JacketLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe vibrant rainbow-stripe used on this ivory silk rayon 1930's "Cartwright" designer dress ensemble has a whimsical allure that I find irresistible. The sleeveless bodice has a flir...Category
1930s American Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Vintage Horrocks Dress and BoleroLocated in London, GBA fun vintage dress by Horrocks with a matching bolero. The dress is in a brown and white print with a lace frill at the hem. The dress has a sweetheart neckline, boning in the bodi...Category
1950s British Day Dresses
- Vintage Sita Cotton Boho DressLocated in London, GBA fun vintage dress for summer. In a bright turquoise with a multi colour trim on the neckline, sleaves and tiers of fabric. The dress has a pocket on either side.Category
1970s Indian Day Dresses
$198 Sale Price20% Off
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Azzedine Alaïa Was a Couturier Who Thought Like a Sculptor
The first fashion exhibit to be held at the new London Design Museum celebrates the famed Tunisian-Parisian couturier's lifetime of work.
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.