Azzedine Alaia Vintage Knit Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fabric pilling, faint marks, a few pulled threads.
- Seller Location:Nice, FR
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: French Riviera, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Thierry Mugler Vintage Black and White Asymetric Bustier DressBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Nice, FRTHIERRY MUGLER vintage black and white asymetric bustier dress. This dress features : - Black wool gabardine with asymetric white details on the bust line and the bottom edge. - Str...Category
20th Century French Cocktail Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Corset Lace Bra Dress US Size 12By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER rare off-white paneled corset like featuring lace bra and lingerie style straps. This dress is made of stretch knit panels to fit to the ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Versace Jeans Couture 1990s Chess and Tropical Flowers Print DressBy Versace Jeans Couture, Gianni VersaceLocated in Nice, FRVERSACE JEANS COUTURE 1990s chess and tropical flowers print dress from GIANNI VERSACE era. This dress features : - Black and off-white chess a...Category
20th Century Italian Day Dresses
- MOSCHINO Cheap and Chic Sky Blue Cloud Peace Dress US Size 8By MoschinoLocated in Nice, FRMOSCHINO Cheap and Chic sky blue cloud peace dress. This dress features : - A cloudy sky print with block PEACE lettering. - Back black panel. - Sleeveles...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Vintage Basketball Jersey DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER black and grey colour block basketball jersey asymetrical dress. This dress features : - V-neck. - Racer back. - Openwork mesh paneling to the front and rear. - L...Category
20th Century Italian Day Dresses
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Vintage Trompe L'oeil Maxi Dress with Detachable SleevesBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Nice, FRJEAN PAUL GAULTIER vintage maxi jersey dress with detachable sleeves featuring an x-ray screen trompe l’œil jean jacket and jeans on the front and ba...Category
20th Century French Day Dresses
- Maison Martin Margiela Spring 1999 Trompe-L'œil Semi Couture BodiceBy Maison Martin MargielaLocated in San Diego, CAMaison Martin Margiela dressmaker bodice in Trompe-L'œil printed cotton featured on the spring 1999 runway in look eight adorned with hook-and-eye closures, number, and lettered with...Category
1990s European Tunics and Wrap Dresses
- Jean-Louis Scherrer Paris Boutique Silk Fauvist Floral DressBy Jean-Louis ScherrerLocated in Sharon, CTOffering a 1980's Scherrer floral printed silk dress, drawn in a loosely Dufy Fauvist manner. Front buttoned, 'drop' waist, partial side zipper, skirt silk lined. Size 42, numbered...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- DOLCE & GABBANA - Grey Alpaca Wool Knit Bodycon Sleeveless Dress Size 6US 38EUBy D&G by DOLCE & GABBANA, Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Cuggiono, MIExpertly crafted from a soft blend of alpaca wool, this dark grey sleeveless knitted dress from Dolce & Gabbana will surely make a sophisticated addition to your wardrobe this season...Category
2010s Italian Sheath Dresses
- Louis Vuitton & Marc Jacobs 2011 one shoulder tunic / dressBy Louis VuittonLocated in Алматинский Почтамт, KZMarc Jacobs by Louis Vuitton Collection: Louis Vuitton Fall / Winter 2011 Material: cotton Details: logo Marked Size: xs asymmetric t-shirt dress t...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Basquiat Opaque Sketch Graffiti Comic Street Art DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier JPG Basquiat Opaque mesh sketch graffiti comic street art vintage 90s Optical Butterfly Maxi Long Tattoo Dress Robe Long dress Jean Paul Gaultier Jeans 0001 colle...Category
1990s French Maxi Dresses
- Alexander McQueen Rose Flower Floral Drape Tie Ribbon 2005 Belt Open Back DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in PARIS, FRAlexander McQueen MCQ Rose Flower Floral Drape Tie Ribbon 2005 Vintage Belt Open Back Dress Black White Fromal Wedding Cocktail Midi Dress Bought at Alexander McQueen sample...Category
Early 2000s Italian Maxi Dresses