Azzedine Alaia Vintage Ruched Open Back Dress Gown
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia Vintage Ruched Open Back Dress Gown
About the Item
- Designer:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Naples, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU162417329011
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.
- Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil Vintage Faces People Print Hooded Mesh Maxi DressBy Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in Naples, FLJean Paul Gaultier Soleil Vintage Faces People Print Hooded Mesh Maxi Dress Size MCategory
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier S/S 2000 Embellished Psychedelic Print Maxi Skirt DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Naples, FLJean Paul Gaultier S/S 2000 Runway Embellished Psychedelic Print Bodycon Maxi Skirt Dress IT 42 Please note this item can be worn as a dress or a ski...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier S/S 2002 Vintage “Portraits” Faces People Print Slip DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Naples, FLJean Paul Gaultier S/S 2002 Vintage “Portraits” Faces People Print Slip Dress Please note size tag has been removed.Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Christian Dior by John Galliano S/S 2004 Sheer Mesh Fringed Evening Dress GownBy John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Naples, FLChristian Dior by John Galliano S/S 2004 Sheer Mesh Silk Fringed Evening Dress Gown FR 38Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil S/S 2002 Vintage “Portraits” Faces Mesh Maxi DressBy Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in Naples, FLJean Paul Gaultier Soleil S/S 2002 Vintage “Portraits” Faces Mesh Maxi Dress Size L As seen on Kylie Jenner previously, purchased from us!Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Roberto Cavalli S/S 2005 Silk Floral Print Slip Evening Dress & Wrap 2 Piece SetBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Naples, FLRoberto Cavalli S/S 2005 Silk Floral Print Slip Evening Maxi Dress and Wrap Shawl 2 Piece Set IT 42 Wrap Approximate Measurements - 47" x 53"Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton DelphosBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived.
Named after a Greek clas...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Price Upon Request - Vintage 1950's Howard Greer Lace and Rhinestone Embellished Dress UK 8 US 4By Howard GreerLocated in Cheltenham, GBThis magnificent 1950's Chantilly lace and silk dress, in a palette of cream lace and apricot silk lining, accented by claw set silver rhinestones, this Howard Greer dress is a rare ...Category
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
- Alessandra Rich Floral Puff-Sleeve Silk Mini Dress IT42 US6By Alessandra RichLocated in Brossard, QCFOLLOW US @RUNWAYCATALOG High collar Long puff sleeves Concealed back zip closure Button cuffs Ruffled trim All over print placement may vary Fitted w...Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Cocktail Dresses
- Rasario Draped Metallic Silk And Crepe Mini DressLocated in Brossard, QCDetachable collar Back zip fastening Contrast piped trim Front button fastening Fitted waist Monogram pattern Metallic threading Flared skirt Short length. Made in Italy Composition;...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Striped Marine Sailor Transparent Mesh Vintage Maxi DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRTransparent marine dress by Jean Paul Gaultier. In very good condition. SIZE Woman: fits from small to medium. No size label. Model`s size in photos: XS. Measurements: (taken uns...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses
- Geoffrey Beene Lurex Knit EnsembleBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in New York, NYGeoffrey Beene, gold lurex knit ensemble, having an elastic puckering mid elbow sleeved, boat neck top and a gathered skirt. Top and skirt are edged in a go...Category
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns