Alaia Burgundy Knit Dress - Size Medium
View Similar Items
Alaia Burgundy Knit Dress - Size Medium
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Length: 35.83 in (91 cm)Marked Size: Size Estimated M (NA)Waist: 13.78 in (35 cm)
- Period:
- Condition:Condition Details : 9/10.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 1452291stDibs: LU550311891522
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.
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld red cashmere wool and faux fur dress, fw 2010By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel red cashmere wool knee-length dress ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Faux 'fantasy' fur skirt and sleeves ▪ Funnel neck backed with brown lambskin leather ▪ Two front pockets...Category
2010s French Day Dresses
- Christian Dior by John Galliano red wool crepe dress with mink fur trim, fw 1999By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in London, GB▪ Christian Dior winter dress ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Red wool crepe ▪ Ribbed wool trim ▪ Mink fur collar with knot detail ▪ Large wood buttons at ...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Azzedine Alaïa red ribbed knit fishtail dress. Sculpted figure. Circa 1990By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Bilbao, ESAlaïa ribbed knit fishtail evening dress with nude knit underdress and zip fastening at the rear. Spring-Summer Mid 1990 Alaïa is revered for his indepe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Cocktail Dresses
$1,934 Sale Price20% Off - Alexander McQueen Fucsia viscose dressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Capri, ITAlexander McQueen Fucsia viscose dress McQueen adjustable flared dress totally made in italy size 40 composition: viscoseCategory
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Lanz Original Vintage Dress 1960s Hot Pink Tweed Sleeveless FringeBy LanzLocated in Portland, ORThis is a simply perfect hot pink classic late 1960’s vintage sleeveless tweed dress with a beautiful double hemline. This Lanz Original dress has pretty fringe, a 20” back zipper an...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
- McQ Alexander McQueen Orange Stretch Knit Dress W Cut Out Zipper DetailsBy McQ Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueenLocated in Portland, ORThis orange Alexander McQueen dress is so special and we really love the diagonal bust zipper that is fully functional! You can wear it with the zipper open for a cut out effect. Thi...Category
2010s Turkish Day Dresses