Alaia Black Wool Blend Punch Hole Decorated Sleeveless Dress
View Similar Items
Alaia Black Wool Blend Punch Hole Decorated Sleeveless Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S (US)Bust: 28 in (71.12 cm)Waist: 24 in (60.96 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 35 in (88.9 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:Seller: 10715-81stDibs: LU7688455482
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.
- Chic 1960s Black and White Gingham Long Sleeve A - Line Vintage 60s Wool DressLocated in San Diego, CAChic late 1960s black and white large houndstooth long sleeve A-line dress! Features a fitted bodice with a full skirt. Oversized collar, and bell sleeves that cuff at the hem. Featu...Category
1960s American Shift Dresses
$395 Sale Price33% Off - John Galliano Fall 1995 Corseted GownBy John GallianoLocated in Prague, CZAs seen in another fabric on the runway, this stunning sample of John Galliano Fall 1995 Corseted Gown in fabulous black! This dress can be worn TWO WAYS:...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil Leather & Mesh DressBy Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil, Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Carmel, CAJean Paul Gaultier Soleil fitted body concious black sheath dress with a black leather front panel and 3 layer stocking knit back panel. Leather front has open twisted and knotted le...Category
1990s French Sheath Dresses
- Rare Bill Gibb Devore Silk Velvet Evening EnsembleBy Bill GibbLocated in Geneva, CHIncredible early 70s "dévoré" silk velvet and gold lame set composed of a short kimono-caftan and a long buttoned maxi skirt. The top is cut wide with sleeves opening down the wais...Category
1970s British Caftans
- Gucci by Tom Ford Black Maxi DressBy GucciLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Gucci by Tom Ford black safari maxi dress from fall 1996 collection. - Front closure with gold Gucci "G" zipper, pointed collar and long le...Category
1990s Italian Maxi Dress
- Thimister Acid-Washed Backless DressBy Thimister, Josephus ThimisterLocated in Laguna Beach, CAGorgeous dark brown, acid-washed, sleeveless dress from vintage Thimister is 100% silk. The eye-catching deep draping in back is delicately secured by two sets of ribbons tied across...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns