Vintage ALAIA black long sleeve sweater dress
View Similar Items
Vintage ALAIA black long sleeve sweater dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4/6 small and medium (US)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:wool
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4261254832
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.
- 1990s Valentino Navy Blue crepe silk GownBy Valentino, Valentino GaravaniLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1990s Valentino navy crepe gown with light blue sequins collar. Button fastener in the side and gown cut in bias. Perfect for wedding / bridal . Model is size 4. This Gown fit best ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Oscar de La Renta Black Silk Cocktail dressBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOscar de la Renta drop waist black silk cocktail dress . Very timeless black dress remind me of Audrey Hepburn style. Elegant and simple. per...Category
Early 2000s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Purple and Gold Silk Maxi GownsLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1970s Raksha Purple and Gold long sleeve maxi gown with silk belt. Size :6/8 MediumCategory
1970s Indian Wedding Dresses
- Prada Grey Silk strapless cocktail DressBy Prada, Miuccia PradaLocated in Beverly Hills, CA2000s Prada Gray ombré silk strapless cocktail dress. Fit size 4Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1950s Black Strapless Silk Tafetta Cocktail DressLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1950s Black silk taffeta strapless cocktail dress with white graffiti print. Perfect for wedding or cocktail party. Bust: 32” / Waist: 25” /Hip open. Size 0/2 /XSCategory
1950s American Evening Gowns
- Zac Posen Green Gown with Floral EmbroideryBy Zac PosenLocated in Beverly Hills, CAZac Posen Dark Green Evening Gown with floral embroidery. Fit size :8Category
Early 2000s American Evening Gowns
- ALAÏA 1990 black knitted mini dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHAlaïa knitted mini dress with sheer raised edge skirt -Back closing with a hidden set zipper -Long sleeves -Nude knitted lining -Made in Italy -100% V...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Golden Eagle Hawk Kendall Jenner Skirt Top SetBy Jean Paul Gaultier, Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Vintage Japanese Golden Eagle Koi Fish Kendall Jenner Wave Yellow Mesh Sheer Transparent Wrap T-shirt Skirt Top Dress Golden Japanese Eagle...Category
1990s Maxi Dresses
$1,994 Sale Price30% OffFree Shipping - ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Textured Leather Bubble DressBy Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueenLocated in Berlin, BEIncredible Alexander McQueen textured leather dress with the most amazing dramatic silhouette. This high-quality dress has the most incredible round silhouette - It is made from a textured leather and features a round neckline with beautiful seam-line details, large round puff...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses
- 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 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
$1,203 Sale Price48% Off - Chanel black wool dress pre fall 2011 Paris Byzance FR 46By ChanelLocated in Rubiera, RECHANEL Pre-fall 2011 PARIS BYZANCE Métiers d'Art Look 11/67 Black wool jersey dress embellished with 6 jewel ornaments. Size FR 46 Made in France 100% wool ...Category
2010s French Cocktail Dresses