1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA catsuit with harlequin diamonds
View Similar Items
1990's AZZEDINE ALAIA catsuit with harlequin diamonds
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Condition is very good; wear is consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Fransisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU81639442
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.
- Kenzo tiger print track pants with striped sidesBy Kenzo Paris, KenzoLocated in San Fransisco, CATiger printed track pants with striped side by Kenzo. French size 36. Pants were not clipped on French size 36 mannequin. Approximate measurements: 26" waist, 42" hips, 31" inseam a...Category
Early 2000s Slovak Wide Leg Pants
- 2016 CELINE by PHOEBE PHILO plaid runway pants with wrap waist- newBy Phoebe Philo, CelineLocated in San Fransisco, CAOversized, plaid wool pants with unique wrap waistband trimmed in leather designed by Phoebe Philo exactly as seen on the spring 2016 runway. French size 36. Approximate measurements...Category
2010s French Pants
- 2000's ALEXANDER MCQUEEN black pants with side rufflesBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Fransisco, CABlack high waist pants with side ruffles designed by Alexander McQueen dating to the 2000's. Labeled an Italian size 42. Pants were not clipped on French size 36 mannequin. Approxima...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pants
- 1990's JEAN PAUL GAULTIER black fitted high waisted pantsBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in San Fransisco, CABlack fitted high waist pants with ankle zippers designed by Jean Paul Gaultier dating to the late 1990's. French size 38. Pants were not clipped on French size 36 mannequin. Approxi...Category
1990s Italian Pants
- YVES SAINT LAURENT by Stefano Pilati black draped caftan dressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in San Fransisco, CADramatic, jet black caftan dress with draped sides at designed by Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent dating to spring of 2009' Labeled a French size XXS although this dress is ver...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Gowns
- 1985 YVES SAINT LAURENT black and white blouse with draped necklineBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in San Fransisco, CABlack and white printed silk blouse with draped neckline from Yves Saint Laurent dating to 1985. French size 36. Top best fits a size 2 or 4. Slips on over the head with zips at wris...Category
1980s French Blouses and Tops
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford FW-2001 Tailored Silhouette Cotton PantsBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Brussels, BEElongating the female form has been one of Tom Ford’s key design trademarks since his arrival at the Florentine House of Gucci. He applied the same slimming and lengthening principle...Category
Early 2000s French Pants
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SS03 COUTURE Wool Sequin Embroidered PantsBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Brussels, BEHollywood Glamour -and the decadent appeal of its Golden Age- are recurrent themes within Jean Paul Gaultier’s work and his men’s and women’s collections. These mannish pants, made o...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pants
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford FW-2001 Higher Waist Cotton PantsBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Brussels, BEMenswear shapes were a constant source of inspiration for French designer Yves Saint Laurent. He put women in tailored pants and tuxedo suits, which created outrage in the late 1960s. Saint Laurent liberated women with his clothes and understood that pants were the way forward. It is therefore logical that Tom Ford would offer his own version of the Saint Laurent pant, underlining the waist and slimming them down for contemporary appeal. Reference to Saint Laurent's 60s Haute Couture...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pants
- Gianni Versace Black Fringe Leather Pants, Fall/Winter 1992.By Gianni VersaceLocated in New York, NYGianni Versace Fringe Leather Pants, F/W 1992. Documented Gianni Versace black leather fringe pants with studded accents. Fall/Winter 1992 Front...Category
1990s Italian Wide Leg Pants
- 1992 Gianni Versace Bondage Black Wool Jumpsuit with MedallionsBy Gianni VersaceLocated in New York, NYIconic 1992 Gianni Versace Black Wool and Silk Jumpsuit with original tags. Features Silk Faille Bands over Embroidered Net Bodice; Gold-tone Medallion Accents with inset Amber Color...Category
1990s Italian Jumpsuits
- Dolce and Gabbana, leather Aaliyah pants, SS 2000By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBMy Runway Archive presents these Iconic runway pants from the Dolce and Gabbana SS 2000 show as worn by the late pop superstar Aaliyah for her...Category
Early 2000s European Pants
$2,302 Sale Price25% Off