Azzedine Alaia Bosycon Dress Gown
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia Bosycon Dress Gown
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Bust: 30 in (76.2 cm)Waist: 25 in (63.5 cm)Hip: 33 in (83.82 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 61.5 in (156.21 cm)
- Style:Body Concious (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Carmel, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4173486741
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.
- Azzedine Alaia Rust Column Bodycon DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Carmel, CAAlaia fitted stretch knit body con dress in rust color, subtle V-neckline, stitched detail along the bodice that provides a flattering shape, and a back zipper fastening. Dress is a ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Maxi Dress
- Atelier Versace Red Silk Chiffon Gown Patron OriginalBy Atelier VersaceLocated in Carmel, CAAtelier Versace gown is featured in red silk chiffon with a matching beaded shawl. The custom-made gown has a ruched bust and assymetrical draping detail with crystal designs and a hand-sewn beaded hem throughout the three skirt layers. Includes an inner body suit with a boned corset and chiffon covered weights at the hips. Dress has a hand-sewn hidden zipper along the bias seam detail with three hook and eye clasps and four snap buttons. Patron original...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
$2,800 Sale Price30% Off - Alexander McQueen Silk Embroidered Knee-Length Wiggle Dress, Pre Fall 2009By Alexander McQueenLocated in Carmel, CAAlexander McQueen Silk Embroidered Knee-Length Wiggle Dress - Look 26 from the Pre-Fall 2009 Collection Alexander McQueen, Dickensian London inspired black dress from 2009 runway fe...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$4,800 Sale Price20% Off - Rudi Gernreich 70's Vintage Wool Knit Multi-pattern DressBy Rudi Gernreich, Harmon KnitwearLocated in Carmel, CARudi Gernreich for Harmon Knitwear 1960's Vintage Wool Knit Multi-pattern purple and black dress made of 100% wool. Dress features front button closures, billow sleeves also with but...Category
1960s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage 1950’s I. Magnin Dress with Jewel Cabochon Embellished NecklineBy I. MagninLocated in Carmel, CAI. Magnin 1950's Vintage dress featured in a robins egg light blue with a faux moonstone jewel-embellished neckline, pintucked skirt, and a back zipper faste...Category
1950s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Pierre Cardin Velvet High Slit Tunic Dress VintageBy Pierre CardinLocated in Carmel, CAPierre Cardin vintage tunic dress in black velvet with high cut slits along the sides and a rounded hem. Back zipper fastening. Dress is fully lined. bust 36'' sleeves 22'' waist 33...Category
1960s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Roberto Cavalli Silky Orange Runway Evening Gown S/S 2004 Size XSBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Saint Petersburg, FLRoberto Cavalli - This silky orange evening gown is just like the one famously worn by Cindy Crawford in the Harper's Bazaar Roberto Cavalli Spring 2004...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns
$11,360 Sale Price20% Off - Hanae Mori, Tokyo 1970 Silk Chiffon DressBy Hanae MoriLocated in Sharon, CTA beautiful 100% silk evening dress, with attached silk 'coat' by the important Japanese Fashion Designer. Abstracted floral/sea pattern in white black pinks and blue. Sash (56" lo...Category
1970s Japanese Evening Dresses
- Christian Dior John Galliano S/S 2003 Red Plunge Draped Pocket Mini DressBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Chicago, ILDesigned by John Galliano for the Christian Dior spring/summer 2003 collection. Oversized design with carefully crafted sex appeal. Gathered/plunge front and plunge draped back. Over...Category
Early 2000s French Mini Dress
$5,808 Sale Price25% Off - Vintage Early 1940's Crimson Red Satin Evening Dress UK 10-12 US 6-8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking early 1940's crimson satin dress, rendered in a full circle cut and tailored to perfection, is the perfect piece for that special occasion. The V shaped neckline...Category
1940s Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1960's Satin Matelasse Dress, Capelet & Shoe Set UK 12 US 8Located in Cheltenham, GBA classic silhouette rendered in a tickle me pink matelasse satin, with matching ostrich feather accents, this original 1960's dress and capelet set, completed with matching silk sho...Category
1960s Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 70s Coral Beaded GownLocated in Los Angeles, CACoral silk floor length gown. Beaded neckline and armpit. Rear zipper closure. Rear button closures. Lined. *Condition: good vintage condition. Mis...Category
1970s Evening Dresses and Gowns