Azzedine Alaia Fitted Open Back White Dress
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia Fitted Open Back White Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: FR 38 (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Naples, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU162416997342
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.
- Gucci Runway F/W 2006 Plunging Neckline Backless Gold Metallic Dress GownBy GucciLocated in Naples, FLGucci Runway F/W 2006 Plunging Neckline Backless Halter Gold Metallic Dress Gown XSCategory
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace S/S 1997 Runway Embroidered Lace Ivory Evening Dress GownBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace S/S 1997 Runway Embroidered Lace Ivory Evening Dress Gown IT 38 Look 92 from the Spring 1997 Collection in black version.Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent F/W 2003 Runway Ruffled Cutout Bra Red DressBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Naples, FLTom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent YSL F/W 2003 Runway Ruffled Cutout Bra Red Dress FR 36 Look 23 from the Fall 2003 Runway.Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gucci S/S 2010 Bodycon Lace Up Bandage Grey Mini DressBy GucciLocated in Naples, FLGucci S/S 2010 Bodycon Lace Up Bandage Grey Mini Dress Please note the size and fabric tags have been removed. This item will best fit size XS/S.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Emilio Pucci S/S 2011 Runway Unworn Embellished Cutout Crochet Open Knit DressBy Emilio PucciLocated in Naples, FLEmilio Pucci S/S 2011 Runway Unworn Embellished Cutout Crochet Open Knit Dress IT 42 Look 8 from the Spring 2011 Collection by Peter Dundas. Condition: New with TagsCategory
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace F/W 1994 Runway Ad Campaign Vintage Gold Oroton Metal Mesh DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace F/W 1994 Runway Ad Campaign Vintage Gold Oroton Metal Mesh Dress COLLECTIBLE ITEM! Gold vintage Gianni Versace metal mesh or...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- New LANVIN Duchesse Satin Vintage Gray Long Wedding Celebrity Gown US 2 4 FR 36By Lanvin ParisLocated in Goshen, KYSize: French 36 Brand: LANVIN Color: Light Dove Gray Season: Vintage Features: Strapless sweetheart neckline Draped detail throughout Ruffle detail at side Belt at waist Long leng...Category
2010s Wedding Dresses
- Vintage 1950's Pink Swirling Satin & Tulle Dress UK 6 US 2Located in Cheltenham, GBThis iconic 1950's dress, rendered in layers of pink tulle, with delicate circular satin details, is just the piece for that special occasion. The strapless cut of the dress, featu...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses
- Blumarine, Strapless draped dressBy BlumarineLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLBlumarine, Strapless draped dress in grey. This item is new - unworn. With zipper on the side • CONDITION: new - unworn • SIZE: IT40 - XS • MEASUREM...Category
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gucci by Tom Ford S/S 2006 Chocolate brown backless halter bamboo cocktail dressBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Milano, IT- Designed by Tom Ford - Sold by Skof.Archive - Bamboo clasp detail - Open back brown cocktail dress - Fitted to the body - Spring Summer 2006 ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$527 Sale Price79% OffFree Shipping - Roberto Cavalli animal print dress, Resort 2014By Roberto CavalliLocated in Milano, IT- Runway Look 3 - Sold by Skof.Archive - Animal print lycra dress - Above knee-length - Crew-neck - Fit regalar to the body - Resort 2014 Size: FR 38 - ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$571 Sale Price20% Off - Versus by Gianni Versace Early 1990s White cotton dress and crop jacket setBy Gianni Versace, VersusLocated in Milano, IT- Early 1990s - Sold by Skof.Archive - Designed by Gianni Versace - Versus by Gianni Versace - White cotton with red profile jacket and dress set - Medusa zipper front detail on the...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
$988 Sale Price25% Off