Alaia Spring-Summer 1996 beaded lemon knit cocktail sequin dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S/M (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14023271493
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: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Jean-Louis Scherrer Couture beaded crêpe de chine evening ensemble, S/S 1999By Jean-Louis ScherrerLocated in London, GB- Haute Couture - Full length kimono - Full length skirt with draped, irregular waistline - Organza bodice covered in wood, cork, rhinestone beads and pearlised sequins - Designed by Stephane...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford black silk organza evening gown, c. 2002By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom FordLocated in London, GBAutumn/Winter 2002 Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent evening gown in black silk organza, the nature of this fabric is very light floaty and semi sheer. The dress is designed to hang...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace studded evening dress, c. 1990sBy Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBA Gianni Versace studded silk jersey evening dress from the 1990s. It 42 - Fr 38Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Givenchy silk chiffon corseted evening dress, c. 2007By Riccardo Tisci, GivenchyLocated in London, GBA Givenchy silk chiffon evening dress from the Spring/Summer 2007 collection. The nude dress of silk chiffon features an attached red silk corset around the waist. Fr 38 -Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Yves Saint Laurent Autumn-Winter 1987 black lace flamenco evening dressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in London, GBYves Saint Laurent Autumn-Winter 1987 black lace flamenco evening dress with ruffled trimCategory
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alaia Spring-Summer 1986 magenta acetate knit bodycon dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBAlaia Spring-Summer 1986 magenta acetate knit bodycon dressCategory
1980s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Ralph Lauren Collection Purple Label Ascot 40th Anniversary Gown S/S 2008 Sz 2By Ralph Lauren Purple LabelLocated in Saint Petersburg, FLRalph Lauren Purple Label - Full length orange floral silk evening gown with feminine flowing ruffles. The dress was on the Spring/Summer 2008 40th Anniversary runway show. This is...Category
Early 2000s American Evening Dresses
- Michael Hoban Tribal Leather Tank Dress, 1980sBy Michael HobanLocated in Scottsdale, AZChannel the best of the 1980s in our Michael Hoban leather tank dress! Solid black leather bust with tribal like patchwork pattern on the bottom in shades of orange, teal, blue and b...Category
1980s American Mini Dress
- 1970s Halston Inspired Multicolor Sequin GownLocated in Scottsdale, AZIntroducing the 1970s Halston Inspired Multicolor Sequin Gown – a stunning homage to the era of disco glamour and sophistication. This sleeveless gown is a work of art that seamlessl...Category
1970s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Cushnie Et Ochs Tangerine Orange Stretch Satin Jersey Mesh Paneled Gown SLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Ditch those traditional mundane dresses and go for a glam, statement-making style with this Cushnie Et Ochs gown. Made from fine quality materials, the gown has mesh panels on the si...Category
2010s American Evening Gowns
- PRADA orange silk ELEPHANT PRINT Sleeveless Cocktail Dress 44By PradaLocated in Zürich, CHPrada SS'17 elephants tent dress in orange, purple, pink, and white silk (100%). With pleats from the right shoulder, drawstring around the hemline and zipper slits on the sides that...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Bill Blass Satin Floor Length Evening GownBy Bill BlassLocated in Austin, TX1980s Bill Blass Satin Floor Length Pleat Front Bodie Evening Gown Condition: Excellent Blue and yellow size M / us 6 27.25" bust, 29.5" waist, 34" ...Category
1980s American Evening Gowns
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Azzedine Alaïa Was a Couturier Who Thought Like a Sculptor
The first fashion exhibit to be held at the new London Design Museum celebrates the famed Tunisian-Parisian couturier's lifetime of work.
This Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Ensemble Is Part Zsa Zsa Gabor, Part ‘Blade Runner’
As Burton steps away from the brand, it’s a fitting time to revisit one of her visionary designs.