Alaia Black Patent Perforated Leather Boots
View Similar Items
Alaia Black Patent Perforated Leather Boots
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 4.34 in (11 cm)Marked Size: 38 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:In very good condition. A snag on the heel of the right boot.
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:Seller: 228761stDibs: LU69534762711
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.
- Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain High Heels in Black Velvet and Gilded Studs 39EUBy BalmainLocated in Paris, FRVery nice Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain high heels in black velvet calfskin and gold studs. Dimensions: heel height 11.5 cm, sole width 8cm, sole length 24 cm, platform height 1.5 cmCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian High Heels
- WALTER STEIGER Evening Pumps in Black Suede with Embroideries Size 37.5EUBy Walter SteigerLocated in Paris, FRSuperb evening Walter Steiger pumps in black suede, with gold arabesques in the front embroidered on a black fabric. Very good used condition. Made in Italy. Length of the insole: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Heels
- GIAMBATISTA VALLI Wedge Boots in Leopard Printed Foal Size 38By Giambattista ValliLocated in Paris, FRGIAMBATTISTA VALLI wedge boots in leopard printed foal. Elastic bands make these boots very comfortable. The leopard print is a reminder to all ready-to-wear collections of Couturier...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Boots
- CHANEL Boots in Bi-color Black and White Tweed and Faux Fur Size 39.5FRBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel boots in bi-color black and white tweed and faux fur. Size 39.5. Wooden and rubber sole. The interior is off-white satin. Boot height: 40 cm, heel height: 12 cm, platform he...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Boots
- Chanel Heeled Ankle Boots Size 39By ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel Maison's heeled ankle boots in black velvet calfskin. Size 39. Nice bow in the front. Zip closure inside. Golden 'CC' mark on the outside of ...Category
2010s French Shoes
- CHRISTIAN LACROIX High Heels Sandals in Cardinal Red Velvet Size 36.5FRBy Christian LacroixLocated in Paris, FRChristian Lacroix high heels sandals in cardinal red velvet. Size 36.5FR They have a blackened silver metal jewelry and cut black Swarovski crystals: marquise and square. The hee...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Heels
- Chanel Black and White Patent Leather Cage Peep Toe Booties Shoes Size 41 or 11By ChanelLocated in Tustin, CAHard to find size 11 or 41, Chanel Black and White Patent Leather Cage Peep Toe Booties Shoes from the Spring 2015 runway collection of the legendary luxury brand Chanel. These edgy...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Atelier Versace Black Satin Sling Backs, Never Worn Size 7By Atelier VersaceLocated in Buchanan, MIAtelier Versace Black Satin Sling Backs, Never Worn Size 7Category
20th Century Italian High Heels
- Atelier Versace Black Satin Sling Backs, Never Worn Size 7By Atelier VersaceLocated in Buchanan, MIAtelier Versace Black Satin Sling Backs, Never Worn Size 7Category
20th Century Italian High Heels
- Atelier Versace Black Satin High Heels, Never Worn Size 7By Atelier VersaceLocated in Buchanan, MIAtelier Versace Black Satin High Heels, Never Worn Size 7Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian High Heels
- Louis Vuitton Suede Perforated ShoesBy Louis VuittonLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLPurposely created to exude style and provide comfort wherever you go, this pair of loafers by Louis Vuitton is absolutely worth the buy! They have been finely crafted from perforated...Category
Early 2000s French Shoes
- PRADA black/orange leather Mules, late 1990sBy Prada, Miuccia PradaLocated in Genève, CHEasy to wear mules with front metallic chain detail with little bow. These beautiful sandals were worn little times and are in very good conditions (front sole has been change becaus...Category
1990s Italian Sandals
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.
With a Wink, Karl Lagerfeld Sent This Egg-Carton-Shaped Chanel Bag Down the Runway
For the brand’s 2014–15 ready-to-wear show in Paris, the designer was inspired by a most unexpected place: the supermarket.