ALAIA red and pink cut out diamonds bodycon stretch dress
View Similar Items
ALAIA red and pink cut out diamonds bodycon stretch dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Toronto, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2032815753
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.
- Gianni Versace F/W 2002 Star Flower Collage Print Plunge Neck Fit & Flare DressBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Chicago, ILDesigned by Donatella Versace for the fall/winter 2002 collection. This Gianni Versace Couture labeled piece features a multicolor psychedelic floral and star cluster pattern, featured in fashion...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Optical Illusion Nude Ethic Trompe l'oeil Vanessa Guide DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier Optical Illusion Nude Body Ethic Trompe l'oeil Venus Stiped Mesh Maxi Dress Jean Paul Gaultier Optical Illusion ...Category
1990s Maxi Dresses
- Gianni Versace pink silk, leather and lace halter neck maxi dress, fw 2000By Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace pink halter neck maxi dress ▪ Silk chiffon, leather, and net lace panels ▪ Hatlerneck embellished with crystals ▪ Open low back ▪ Concealed zipper at center back ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gucci by Tom Ford pink floral silk shift dress with leather bands, ss 1999By Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in London, GB▪ Gucci shift dress ▪ Designed by Tom Ford ▪ Pink and red floral printed silk ▪ Black leather waist bands ▪ Flounce hem ▪ Boat neck ▪ IT 42 - FR 38...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Missoni Pink Patterned Knit Skater Dress LBy MissoniLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2From the house of Missoni, this dress is a classy piece to own. This skater dress is the right fusion of sophistication and comfort as it smoothly takes you through the day. It is co...Category
2010s Italian Day Dresses
- Ralph Lauren Coral Pink Jersey Sleeveless Jenny Maxi Dress MBy Ralph LaurenLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2You can always rely on a Ralph Lauren dress like this one. Be it a day or a night event, you cannot go wrong with this coral pink dress. Quality fabri...Category
2010s French Casual Dresses