AZZEDINE ALAIA black dress with open back and flared skirt
View Similar Items
AZZEDINE ALAIA black dress with open back and flared skirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: XS (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Fransisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU81215846
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.
- NEW 1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA forest green wool knit dress with open backBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAForest green, knit dress with long striped skirt and open back from Azzedine Alaia dating to the 1990's. Labeled a French size S however there is some flexibility with the sizing due...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- 1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA black sleeveless knit dress with sheer hemBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAJet black knit wool dress with semi sheer crochet detail designed by Azzedine Alaia dating to the 1990's. Labeled a size XS. Measures approximately (unstretched): 24" at bust, 18" at...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Day Dresses
- AZZEDINE ALAIA black wool dress with seamed flared skirtBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAJet black wool dress with boat-neckline, set in waistband and seamed skirt from Azzedine Alaia dating to the 1990's. Slips on over the head. Dress fits a size small. Approximate meas...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- 1990's LEONARD of PARIS floral printed silk jersey babydoll dressBy Leonard of ParisLocated in San Fransisco, CAFloral-printed, silk-jersey babydoll dress in tones of grey and black designed by Leonard of Paris dating to the 1990's. No size is labeled however this would best fit a size S to M....Category
Late 20th Century French Babydoll Day Dresses
- 1980's CLAUDE MONTANA black knit dress with bubble hemline and open knit backBy Claude MontanaLocated in San Fransisco, CAVery rare, uniquely shaped, jet-black knit dress with bubble hem and open knit back from Claude Montana dating to the 1980's. French size 40, which fits a US 4-6. Unstretched dress m...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses
- 1970's LEONARD of Paris floral printed silk jersey dressBy Leonard Fashion, LeonardLocated in San Fransisco, CAVivid, floral printed silk jersey dress with bell sleeves and empire waist from Leonard dating to the early 1970's. No size is indicated however this would best fit a French 36 or Fr...Category
1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage 1930's Cartwright Ivory Striped Silk Rayon Cut-Out Maxi Dress & JacketLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe vibrant rainbow-stripe used on this ivory silk rayon 1930's "Cartwright" designer dress ensemble has a whimsical allure that I find irresistible. The sleeveless bodice has a flir...Category
1930s American Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Givenchy Printed Plunging Maxi DressBy GivenchyLocated in Geneva, CHWonderful 70's silhouette with this Givenchy maxi dress. Made of airy silk chiffon featuring a red and white graphic print, the dress has a deep plunging neckline at the front and re...Category
1970s French Maxi Dresses
- Fausto Puglisi fucsia black and beije wool dressLocated in Capri, ITFausto Puglisi fucsia black and beije wool dress total lenght 102 cm 70 bust size SCategory
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$327 Sale Price31% Off - Exquisite Vintage James Purcell BNWT $2, 300 Gray Pinstripe Dress Black CrystalsBy James PurcellLocated in San Diego, CAStriking vintage 1990s JAMES PURCELL charcoal gray pinstriped dress! Brand new, with original price tags attached of $2,265 (which is equivalent curren...Category
1990s Cocktail Dresses
- Gibo Early 2000s Italian Made Size 40 Black Cut - Out 3/4 Sleeves DressLocated in San Diego, CASexy early 2000s GIBO black cut-out 3/4 sleeves dress ! Features cut-out above the bust that ties at the center. Simply slips over the head and stretches to fit. The perfect little b...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1990s Morgan Le Fay by Liliana Casbal Black Wool Minimalist Vintage 90s DressBy Morgan Le FayLocated in San Diego, CAMinimalist chic at its best in this 1990s MORGAN LE FAY by LILIANA CASBAL black wool sleeveless dress ! This dress is a prime example of the 90s Minimalist...Category
1990s American Cocktail Dresses