Alaia knitted orange bodysuit with cross over back, c. 1990s
View Similar Items
Alaia knitted orange bodysuit with cross over back, c. 1990s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14021293273
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 by Tom Ford pink floral printed silk blouse and panties, ss 1999By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in London, GBGucci by Tom Ford pink floral printed silk chiffon blouse with bow fastening and black knitted panties with leather elastic waistband. Exact look from the runway. Spring-Summer 1999Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Jean Paul Gaultier orange twisted bodysuit, ss 1998By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in London, GB▪ Archival Jean Paul Gaultier bodysuit ▪ Spring-Summer 1998 ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Allover orange print features the artwork 'Krishna Leela' by Raja Ravi Varma (1910) ▪ A...Category
1990s Italian Bodysuits
- Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Crystal Adorned Mr. Pearl Corset, ss 1996By Christian LacroixLocated in London, GB▪ Archival Christian Lacroix Mr. Pearl Corset ▪ Haute Couture, Spring-Summer 1996, Look #53 ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Museum Grade Introducing the Archival Christian Lacroix Corset...Category
1990s French Corsets
- John Galliano red lycra bodysuit c.1990By John GallianoLocated in London, GBRed bodysuit by John Galliano circa 1990Category
1990s British Bodysuits
- Dolce & Gabbana Autumn-Winter 1990 beaded corset blouseBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana Autumn-Winter 1990 beaded corset blouseCategory
1990s Italian Corsets
- Gucci by Tom Ford black satin cone bra corset bustier, ss 2001By Tom Ford for GucciLocated in London, GBGucci by Tom Ford, black satin corset bustier with cone bra style structured bust, internal boning and zip fastening. Spring-Summer 2001Category
1990s Italian Corsets
- Emilio Pucci for Formfit Rogers 2pc. Sheer Peignoir Robe & Gown 1970sBy Emilio PucciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLEmilio Pucci for Formfit Rogers 2pc. peignoir in sheer coral & taupe nylon. Long kimono sleeve wrap front gown, the belt is missing, in coral. The matching night gown is pull on with...Category
1970s Italian Negligees
- Warm Tangerine Multi-Micro Floral Silk Japanese KimonoLocated in New York, NYThis delightfully cheerful warm tangerine silk Japanese kimono is accented with multi-micro florals and measures 63 1/4 inches in length. The underarm...Category
1970s Japanese Loungewear
- Warm Tangerine Silk With Multi-Color Floral KimonoLocated in New York, NYWarm Tangerine silk kimono is accented with multi-color floral. The length measures 62", underarm circumstance is 56", collar width is 4 1/2", neck-to-sleeve's cuff is 22", sl...Category
1970s Japanese Loungewear
- Bold Tangerine Ceremonial "Lucky Cranes Spreading Happiness" Silk KimonoLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully bold tangerine ceremonial detailed embroidered silk kimono detailed flock of "Lucky Cranes Flying to Spread Happiness and Long Life". The total length measures ...Category
1980s Japanese Coats and Outerwear
- Fernando Sanchez Multi-Color Silk Crepe de Chine RobeBy Fernando SanchezLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully bright bold multi-colored silk crepe de chine by Fernando Sanchez has colors of fuchsia and pink accented with a multi-colored front and neck band. The total len...Category
1980s American Loungewear
- 1920S Dusty Rose Silk Charmeuse Slip Dress Beautiful Under Black Or Ecru LaceLocated in New York, NY1920S Dusty Rose Silk Charmeuse Slip Dress Beautiful Under Black Or Ecru LaceCategory
1920s Slips
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.