Rare Alaia Vintage S/S 1991 Tati Black White Houndstooth Print Mini Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 31 in (78.74 cm)Marked Size: L (EU)Bust: 30 in (76.2 cm)Waist: 27 in (68.58 cm)Hip: 34 in (86.36 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Jersey City, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3222222412722
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: Jersey City, NJ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Chanel Vintage S/S 1994 Black White Vinyl PVC Striped 94P Mini DressBy ChanelLocated in Jersey City, NJStep back into the iconic fashion of the 1994 Chanel Spring/Summer collection with this vintage black and white striped mini dress. Made from sleek vinyl PVC, it boasts a striking ch...Category
1990s French Mini Dresses
- Alaia Silver Grey Square Neck Knit Perforated Fit Flare DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Jersey City, NJA true representation of Azzedine Alaia's iconic style, this dove grey fit-and-flare dress with a square neckline is a timeless staple for every woman's closet. It boasts a chic squa...Category
Early 2000s French Mini Dresses
- Chanel Vintage Spring/Summer 1991 Black Lace Silk Bow LBD Mini DressBy ChanelLocated in Jersey City, NJThe little black dress from Chanel Spring/Summer 1991 is a stunning piece embodying the classic elegance of Chanel. Designed by Karl Lagerfeld and presented by supermodels Claudia Sc...Category
1990s French Mini Dresses
- Dior Fall/Winter 2022 Yellow Black Plaid Bar Clueless Blazer JacketBy Christian DiorLocated in Jersey City, NJCheck out the hottest item from Dior's Fall/Winter 2022 collection – the yellow and black plaid bar blazer. It's got that school uniform vibe, with a nod to Cher Horowitz's iconic 'C...Category
2010s French Blazers
- Dior 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Blush Pink Nude Bar JacketBy Christian DiorLocated in Jersey City, NJDior's iconic Bar Jacket, originally created by Christian Dior in 1947, is reimagined in a delicate powdery pink color by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Crafted from a blend of Rose des Vents ...Category
2010s French Jackets
- Iconic Chanel Vintage Spring/Summer 1994 Yellow Gold Tweed 94P JacketBy ChanelLocated in Jersey City, NJThis vintage Chanel jacket is a rare gem from the Spring/Summer 1994 collection, famously worn by Claudia Schiffer for the Original Thinkers photo series. Crafted with yellow, chartr...Category
1990s French Jackets
- Comme Des Garçons Button-up Black Chiffon Shirt DressBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Berlin, BEComme Des Garçons Button-up Black Shirt Dress Brand: Comme Des Garçons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection/Year: 2000s Fabric: Cotton / Chiffon Color: Black Size: XS Japanese desig...Category
2010s Japanese Casual Dresses
- Vintage 1920's Gold Beaded Sequin Dress Flapper Dress UK 6-8 US 2-4Located in Cheltenham, GBFull of opulent original details, rendered in the most luxurious fashion, this rare 1920's piece is a beauty to behold and never again find. The rounded neckline of the dress, is fr...Category
1920s European Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1960's Iridescent Cream Sequin & Beaded Wool Dress UK 8-10 US 4-6Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking 1960's cream knitted wool dress, embellished in its entirety with cream iridescent sequins, and finished with floral beaded details, is the perfect piece for a spar...Category
1960s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1920's Black Silk Chiffon Beaded Bow Dress UK 12 US 8Located in Cheltenham, GBFull of opulent original details, rendered in the most luxurious fashion, this rare 1920's piece is a beauty to behold. On a base of black silk chiffon and embellished with glass bea...Category
1920s European Cocktail 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
- Vintage Late 1950's Black Christian Dior Dress UK 8 US 4By Christian DiorLocated in Cheltenham, GBThis collectible and rare late 1950's Christian Dior dress, rendered in a deep black wool crepe, showcases the iconic silhouette of the era, whilst remaining to this day a classic an...Category
1950s European Cocktail Dresses