Black & White Alaia Eyelet Cotton Fit-and-Flare Dress
View Similar Items
Black & White Alaia Eyelet Cotton Fit-and-Flare Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4 (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14726637591
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.
- Black Amina Muaddi x Wolford Sleeveless Bodycon Dress Size US MLocated in New York, NYBlack sleeveless bodycon dress by Amina Muaddi x Wolford. Crew neck. Ruching at sides. 36" bust, 32" waist, 38" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
$212 Sale Price20% Off - Black Saint Laurent Leather & Mesh-Accented Dress Size US XSBy Saint LaurentLocated in New York, NYBlack long sleeve mini dress by Saint Laurent. Mesh panel accent at front bodice. Leather waist detail. 30" bust, 26" waist, 35" length, 15" shoulder width.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Mini Dresses
- Black & Multicolor Valentino Wool & Silk Floral Print DressBy ValentinoLocated in New York, NYBlack, white, and pink wool and silk-blend floral print mini dress by Valentino. Crew neck. Three-quarter sleeves. Zip closure at back. Designer size 00. 32" bust, 32" waist, 34" len...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Mini Dresses
$340 Sale Price20% Off - Black Chloe Pleated Knit DressBy ZimmermannLocated in New York, NYBlack pleated knit dress by Chloe. Crew neck. Long sleeves. 30" bust, 24" waist, 35" length, 16.5" shoulder width.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
$260 Sale Price20% Off - Ulla Johnson Navy & White Silk Paisley Print Maxi DressBy Ulla JohnsonLocated in New York, NYProduct Details: Navy and white silk paisley print maxi dress by Ulla Johnson. Crew neck. Long sleeves. Button closures at front bodice. 34" bust, 32" waist, 57" length. Condition: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Maxi Dresses
$316 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage Black Zoran Sleeveless Silk Mini Dress Size US MBy ZoranLocated in New York, NYVintage black silk sleeveless mini dress by Zoran. Bateau neckline. Draping at back. 30" bust, 28" waist, 35" length, 12" shoulder width.Category
Late 20th Century European Mini Dresses
- Adolfo Tropical Silk Jersey Strapless Dress with Half CapeletBy AdolfoLocated in New York, NYAdolfo strapless dress with bold green, indigo and white tropical floral print. Wonderfully tailored, with fitted bodice and draped open tulip front slit above the knee for movement...Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- SAINT LAURENT BY HEDI SLIMANE 2014 Black Leather Mini DressBy Saint Laurent, Hedi Slimane for Yves 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 1940's Burgundy Corduroy Dress UK 8 US 4Located in Cheltenham, GBThis wonderful 1940's dress rendered in a deep shade of Bordeaux corduroy, is just the piece to welcome to your seasonal wardrobe. The slim V shaped neckline is framed by a simple ...Category
1940s Day Dresses
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche silk floral wrap dressBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in CULEMBORG, GEThis figure flattering, silk, wrap-dress by Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche from 1980* has a beautiful multicolor floral print. The pink, orange and purple flowers surrounded by green leafs are set on a black ground. At the neck, there is an interior tie to close up above the bust. The inside is lined around the shoulders and it comes with a matching sash stitched on the back. Taking a closer look at the Jabot-style collar and ruffled sleeves covered in pink and orange stripes it shows how beautifully constructed Yves Saint Laurent's ready-to-wear items where made. The vivid colors and combination of stripes and flowers give the all together look a funky Parisienne touch: feminine, but rather cool with a touch of romance. The indicated size FR 38 corresponds to a contemporary size S but because of the two strategic placed hooks at the waist it is possible to adjust this dress and therefore it would also fit a size M (FR40). Item measurements (lying flat): Size: FR 38 Shoulders: 50 cm (sleeves incl.) Sleeves: 64 cm (from shoulder) Bust: 45 cm Waist: 35 up to 40 cm Hips: up to 60 cm Length: 100 cm up to 110 cm (back) Model Nieve wears a size S with a 1.80 meter length. All items I sell are being professionally cleaned, pressed and are odor free. We offer free shipping on all (international) orders. * Additional information: When I was gathering information about this lovely silk Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche floral wrap dress...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1990's Moschino Cheap & Chic "Not Just A Pretty Dress" Velvet Studded DressBy Moschino Cheap and ChicLocated in Concord, NCMoschino Cheap and Chic 1990's black velvet form fitting dress with a whimsical quote studded on the front stating "Not Just A Pretty Dre...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- 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
$1,204 Sale Price48% Off