Vintage Azzedine Alaia White Cotton Fitted Cropped Lightweight Corset Jacket
View Similar Items
Vintage Azzedine Alaia White Cotton Fitted Cropped Lightweight Corset Jacket
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small - Small Medium (US)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6622950063
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.
- 1970s Charm of Hollywood Ivory Off White Crochet Sheer Vintage Maxi Duster VestLocated in San Diego, CABoho chic 70s CHARM OF HOLLYWOOD ivory linen and cotton crochet duster vest ! Buttons up the front. Great with jeans and a tank or over a swimsuit. In great...Category
1970s American Vests
- Phillip Lim 3.1 Early 2000s Faux Suede Shearling Brown Tan Ivory Trucker JacketBy 3.1 Phillip LimLocated in San Diego, CAChic early 2000s 3.1 PHILLIP LIM faux suede and faux shearling trucker style jacket! Features a medium tan soft faux suede, with ivory faux shearling throughout. Full metal zipper up...Category
Early 2000s American Jackets
$521 Sale Price25% Off - Vintage St John Size 6 / 8 Ivory and Black 1990s Santana Knit 90s Blazer JacketBy Marie Gray, St. JohnLocated in San Diego, CAChic and classic vintage ST. JOHN 1990s ivory and black santana knit blazer jacket! Features four black and gold buttons up the front and at each sleeve cuff. Black trim throughout. ...Category
1990s American Blazers
- 1990s Escada by Margaretha Ley Sz 34 Hunter Green + Ivory Wool Jacket and ScarfBy EscadaLocated in San Diego, CAChic 90s vintage ESCADA by MARGARETHA LEY forest green and ivory houndstooth checkered blazer jacket, and matching scarf! Green buttons up the front of the jacket. Pocket at each sid...Category
1990s German Blazers
$630 Sale Price20% Off - Rare 1960s Norman Norell Navy Blue + Ivory Vintage 60s Belted Smoking JacketBy Norman NorellLocated in San Diego, CARare historical piece of fashion from the brilliant NORMAN NORELL! Navy blue wool body, with any ivory satin shawl collar, sleeve cuffs, buttons, pockets and sash belt. Buttons are n...Category
1960s French Smoking Jackets
- Oscar de la Renta 1960s Ivory Wool + Green Suede Mod Flower Print Jacket DressBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in San Diego, CARare and insanely chic vintage 60s OSCAR DE LA RENTA retro jacket OR dress! Features a soft ivory wool, with brightly colored flowers and grass...Category
1960s American Jackets
- Moschino Couture 90s Cardigan Vest White CrochetedBy Moschino CoutureLocated in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NLMoschino Couture Cardigan White Crocheted is a beautiful item of the 90s and very well kept. Elegant, fresh and ready to wear! Moschino is an Italian luxury fashion brand known for...Category
1990s Italian Vests
$161 Sale Price34% Off - Supreme SS16 Apex Taped Seam White JacketBy SupremeLocated in Bear, DESupreme Apex Taped Seam White Jacket SS16 Size Large Great condition (view all pics; some markings) Measurements: Chest: 25” Length: 29.5” Shoulders: 22.75” Sleeve length: 25” All ...Category
2010s Anoraks and Parkas
- Martin Margiela 'Semi Couture' canvas sleeves, fw 1997By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBPresenting a rare and archival pair of Martin Margiela 'Semi Couture' Canvas Sleeves from the autumn-winter 1997 collection, a true gem that captures the ...Category
1990s French Jackets
- HERMES Vintage Hussar Tromp Loeil print gold silk buttons waistcoat vest FR40 LBy HermèsLocated in Hong Kong, NTrare HERMES Vintage Hussar Tromp Loeil print red gold silk buttons waistcoat vest FR40 L Reference: TGAS/D00459 Brand: Hermes Material: Silk Color: Red, Gold Pattern: Photographic Pr...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Vests
- OSCAR DE LA RENTA 2018 pink virgin wool 3 pocket longline blazer jacket US0By Oscar De La RentaLocated in Hong Kong, NTOSCAR DE LA RENTA 2018 blush pink virgin wool 3 pocket longline blazer jacket US0 XS Reference: LNKO/A02116 Brand: Oscar De La Renta Collection: 2018 Material: Virgin Wool, Blend Col...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Blazers
- VOYAGE INVEST IN THE ORIGINAL LONDON white embroidered boucle trim fitted jacketLocated in Hong Kong, NTVOYAGE INVEST IN THE ORIGINAL LONDON white embroidered blue boucle trim fitted peplum jacket M Reference: GIYG/A00317 Brand: VOYAGE INVEST IN THE ORIGINA...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Blazers