Alaia brown mustard acetate knit halter neck body, circa 1989
View Similar Items
Alaia brown mustard acetate knit halter neck body, circa 1989
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Medium (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14022368233
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.
- Vivienne Westwood Spring-Summer 1992 brown leather corset and mini skirtBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood Spring-Summer 1992 brown leather corset with boning, zip fastening and two long tie-up sashes at the front. High waisted mini skirt with slit at the rear.Category
1990s British Skirt Suits
- Vivienne Westwood gold crochet lurex long-sleeve cropped corset, fw 1993By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood corset ▪ Gold crocheted lurex yarn ▪ Built-in boned corset ▪ Long sleeves ▪ Wide neckline ▪ Cropped length ▪ Size Medium ▪ Fall-Winter 1993 ▪ Made in EnglandCategory
1990s English Corsets
- Vivienne Westwood chevron cotton corset with Japanese ukiyo-e print, ss 2000By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBPresenting an exquisite Vivienne Westwood corset top artfully crafted from teal chevron-printed cotton, adorned with a captivating Japanese-inspired ukiyo-e print. This intricate art...Category
1990s British Corsets
- Vivienne Westwood taupe lace and knitted adjustable bra, ss 1996By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood taupe rib-knit bra with lace trim and drawstring bow fastening Spring-Summer 1996Category
1990s British Bras
- John Galliano red lycra bodysuit c.1990By John GallianoLocated in London, GBRed bodysuit by John Galliano circa 1990Category
1990s British Bodysuits
- Dolce & Gabbana brown suede embellished corset, 1990sBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana brown suede corset with floral embroidery and embellishment. c. 1990sCategory
1990s Italian Corsets
- Dior Sheer Night Gown Lilac (Small)By Christian DiorLocated in Montreal, QuebecCOLOR: Lilac MATERIAL: Silk SIZE: Small CONDITION: Good - minimal signs of use. Made in FranceCategory
21st Century and Contemporary French Lingerie
- Vintage Japanese hand made green floral silk over coat maxi robe gown kimonoLocated in Paris, FRVintage Japanese kimono Handmade in Japan Floor length Varying shades of green mixed with pale grey and pink Floral garden style print Comes with a bright blue silk ribbon that give...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Overcoats
- Fringe Gold Sequin Vintage Show BraLocated in Amsterdam, NLThis bra is made from gold color sequins and fringe, Its in good condition with minimum wear of use. Size 80 cm/ 31.49 inch Please note that vintage items are not new and therefore ...Category
20th Century Bras
$478 Sale Price20% Off - Taupe Textured Jacquard Haori Half-Kimono Tie Front Lingerie Jacket - M-L, 1960sLocated in Tucson, AZSometimes called iro muji, short kimonos can act as lingerie cover-ups as well as lightweight blouses or jackets. In a versatile putty color, this unusual version features rich textu...Category
1960s Japanese Robes
- Mid 20th Century Central Asian Quilted Silk Ikat Chapan Robe CoatLocated in Atlanta, GAA beautiful early to mid 20th Century quilted silk woman's robe from the Mazar-i-Sharif region of Northern Afghanistan, Central Asia. The robe is in a traditional Ikat pattern displ...Category
Mid-20th Century Afghan Robes
- Natori Asian Print Peignoir Duster Robe & Slip Gown Ensemble circa 1990sLocated in University City, MONatori Asian print peignoir duster robe & slip gown ensemble Size M The luxurious silky duster robe & matching slip gown lingerie are illustrated with a J...Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Loungewear
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Azzedine Alaïa Was a Couturier Who Thought Like a Sculptor
The first fashion exhibit to be held at the new London Design Museum celebrates the famed Tunisian-Parisian couturier's lifetime of work.
This Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Ensemble Is Part Zsa Zsa Gabor, Part ‘Blade Runner’
As Burton steps away from the brand, it’s a fitting time to revisit one of her visionary designs.