Azzedine Alaïa Metallic Croc Effect Leather Sandals
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaïa Metallic Croc Effect Leather Sandals
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38.5 (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU736313350152
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.
- Bottega Veneta Point Medium Quilted Leather Tote BagBy Bottega VenetaLocated in London, GBBottega Veneta Point medium quilted leather tote bag. Made from peach-pink soft quilted leather with a structured magnetic frame, knotted shou...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tote Bags
- Chanel 2014 Boy Medium Python And Leather Shoulder BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBChanel 2014 Boy medium python and leather shoulder bag. Made from orange python and leather with matching leather interior and antiqued gold-tone hardware and chain shoulder straps. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Stark Brilliance Embellished Suede Box ClutchLocated in London, GBStark's clutch has a sleek, streamlined shape that will fit easily in your hand or under the arm, made from suede and gold metal, it's embellished with crystals throughout and is lin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clutches
- Prada Pocket Leather And Nylon Shoulder BagBy PradaLocated in London, GBPrada Pocket leather and nylon shoulder bag. Pink. Buckle fastening at front. Does not come with dustbag or box. Height: 6.4 in. Width: 2 in. Depth: 5 in. Strap Drop: 34 in. Very goo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Saint Laurent Opiyum Monogramme Chain Detailed Suede And Metal Shoulder BagBy Saint LaurentLocated in London, GBSaint Laurent Opiyum monogramme chain detailed suede and metal shoulder bag. Made from gold-tone hardware with black suede and silver and gold-tone chain detail and finished with the...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Prada Pocket Leather And Nylon Shoulder BagBy PradaLocated in London, GBPrada Pocket leather and nylon shoulder bag. Beige. Buckle fastening at front. Does not come with dustbag or box. Height: 6.4 in. Width: 2 in. Depth: 5 in. Strap Drop: 34 in. Very go...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Chanel Tan Leather Strappy Wedge Sandals Heel Flip Flop Open Toe Size 40 9By ChanelLocated in Malibu, CA🖤 Chanel Leather Wedge Sandals 🖤 Nude leather Chanel wedge sandals, with silver-tone interlocking CC at wooden heel and buckle closure at ankle...Category
Early 2000s Sandals
- Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 sculptural snakeskin heels Size 7By Alexander McQueenLocated in Malibu, CAFrom the Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear Runway Show Cream colored snakeskin shoe that lace up all the way Heel Height 6" Condition: - soles have normal wear for being pre owned - very ...Category
2010s Heels
- Nike Dunk Low Retro SP “St. John’s” Red VarsityLocated in Bear, DENike Dunk Low Retro SP “St. John’s” Red Varsity Size 10.5 Og all Excellent condition (minus a slight mark on toebox; see pics)Category
2010s North American Shoes
- Jimmy Choo, Dakota 100 metallic wedgeBy Jimmy ChooLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLJimmy Choo, Dakota 100 metallic lizard effect wedge. The item is new - unworn • CONDITION: new - unworn • SIZE: 38.5 • INSOLE MEASUREMENTS: 25 cm • HEEL MEASUREMENTS: 11 cm PLAT...Category
2010s Shoes
- Gianvito Rossi, Plexi pump in nudeBy Gianvito RossiLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLGianvito Rossi, Plexi pump in nude. The item is new - unworn and comes with dustbag. • CONDITION: new - unworn • SIZE: 38.5 • INSOLE MEASUREMENTS: 25 cm • HEEL MEASUREMENTS: 10....Category
2010s Heels
- Louis Vuitton Brown Leather Penny Loafers Size 38By Louis VuittonLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Stylish and super comfortable, this pair of loafers by Louis Vuitton will make a great addition to your shoe collection. They have been crafted from leather and styled with gold-tone...Category
2010s French Shoes
$372 Sale Price22% Off
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 Golden Saint Laurent Handbag Feels Like a Disco-Era Throwback (in the Best Way Possible)
If you're looking for an accessory that brings the party, this is it.