Azzedine Alaia "Mon Coeur est à Papa" Dress
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia "Mon Coeur est à Papa" Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Size 40 (EU)
- Style:Naomi (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3021216991362
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.
- Prada silver knit dressBy PradaLocated in London, EnglandPrada silver lurex plisse knit tank dress A precious motif formed by different types of ribbing creates a sunray pleat effect in this elegant, luminous d...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
$1,583 - Giambattista Valli Hot Pink Silk Ruffled Gown with Lace Shoulders and Black BowBy Giambattista ValliLocated in London, EnglandGiambattista Valli Hot Pink Silk Ruffled Gown with Lace Shoulders and Black Bow. Size 38 - Ruffled long sleeves silk gown in hot pink with black...Category
2010s Evening Gowns
- Hermes Red Shiny Crocodile Bearn Wallet gold and diamond hardwareBy HermèsLocated in London, EnglandHermes Red Shiny Crocodile Bearn Wallet in alligator crocodile, hardware is in 18 K white gold and diamond hardware, with 16 brilliant cut diamonds fo...Category
2010s French Wallets
$12,159 Sale Price20% Off - Hermes Fuchsia Shiny Porosus Crocodile Birkin 35 bag PHWBy HermèsLocated in London, EnglandHermes Fuchsia Shiny Porosus Crocodile Birkin 35 bag with palladium hardware. The bag has been to HERMES aftercare and the hardware has been replaced with new. The hardware is all s...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- Lilly e Violetta Light blue mink vison cropped sleeved jacketLocated in London, EnglandLilly e Violetta Light blue mink vison cropped sleeved jacket -Fully lined -Dyed blue mink body - Bracelet sleeves - Hook fastening along the fron...Category
2010s British Fur Puffer Coats
- Valentino Runway Navy Floral Sequin Panelled Mink Fur CoatBy ValentinoLocated in London, EnglandValentino Runway Navy Floral Sequin Panelled Mink Fur Coat 2022 -Navy mink fur body -Bead leaf embellishment panels -Mid-weight construction -Full...Category
2010s Italian Fur Puffer Coats
- Vintage 1940's Magenta Knitted Dress UK 10-12 US 6-8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis incredible 1940's magenta knitted dress, rendered in a multitude of different knitted stitches, is just the piece for your transitional wardrobe. The deep V shaped neckline is...Category
1940s Day Dresses
- Vintage 1950's Silk Brocade Butterfly Dress UK 8-10 US 4-6Located in Cheltenham, GBA marvel to behold, this original 1950's silk brocade dress in a vibrant shade of fuchsia pink with rose pink accents, in a wonderfully intricate butterfly pattern, is just the piece...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses
- 1990' vintage red and black dress by Moschino cheap & chicBy Moschino Cheap and Chic, MoschinoLocated in LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, FR1990' vintage red and black dress by Moschino cheap & chic. In good condition some velvet pearls are missing (see pictures) but the overall state is impeccable. the top of the dress ...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- 1980’s Moschino Mare Vintage Minnie Mouse Knit Mini DressBy MoschinoLocated in Concord, NCSuper fun and whimsical rare Moschino late 80's/early 90's polka dot minnie mouse inspired dress accented with a yellow bow. Featuring a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. An iconi...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses
- Art Deco Red Chiffon 'Flapper' Dress, manner Dufy & PoiretBy Paul PoiretLocated in Sharon, CTOffering a 1920's Red Silk Chiffon Art Deco 'Flapper' Dress in the manner of Paul Poiret with a printed black rose pattern in the manner of Raoul Dufy. Pleated sleeves and black vel...Category
1920s French Cocktail Dresses
- Jean-Louis Scherrer Boutique Paris Paisley Silk Day DressBy Jean-Louis ScherrerLocated in Sharon, CTOffering a Jean-Louis Scherrer Paris Silk Day Dress. Paisley print, top lined in black silk, buttoned up front, US size 8. A numbered Paris label (408309).Category
1980s French Day Dresses