ALAIA Fall 2016 Runway Red and black flocked Lace Overlay Gown
View Similar Items
ALAIA Fall 2016 Runway Red and black flocked Lace Overlay Gown
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Toronto, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2033530681
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.
- Vintage Green Velvet and Orange Print GownLocated in London, GBAn easy to wear vintage gown. The dress has a green velvet top part with v cross over neckline. The skirt is an A line orange print.Category
1970s Unknown Evening Dresses and Gowns
- VICTORIA ROYAL Champagne Beaded Gown Size LargeBy Victoria RoyalLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis Victoria Royal gown is composed of a beaded silk in champagne hues with silver. The gown features a plunge style neckline and long sleeves. There is a center back zipper. In ex...Category
20th Century Hong Kong Evening Gowns
- A Vintage 1970s Ross Bergo for Harrods Pleated GownLocated in London, GBA pretty vintage gown by Ross Bergo for Harrods. The dress is multicoloured with a purple trim . It has a detachable modesty panel , ie removing it will make the gown have a more def...Category
1970s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- APROPOS 1980's Ivory Beaded Gown with Shoulder Accents Size 6-8Located in Los Angeles, CAThis dress is composed of a beaded ivory silk. Features amazing bead and sequin applique with relief beading and dimensional shouldler details. There are center back button closures...Category
1980s British Evening Gowns
- IRENE SARGENT Gold Sequin Gown with Empire Bust Size 6-8By IRENE SARGENTLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis Irene Sargent Couture gown is composed of a gold sequin fabric. Features an empire v-neck bust. There is a center back zipper closure. In excellent vintage condition. **Ple...Category
20th Century Unknown Evening Gowns
- HAUTE COUTURE INTERNATIONAL Heavily Beaded Silk Champagne Opera Coat & DressBy HAUTE COUTURE INT'LLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis Haute Couture International ensemble is composed of a champagne tone embellished silk with a floral/Ivy motif. The coat features cente...Category
20th Century Hong Kong Evening Dresses and Gowns