1990s Alaia Black Iconic Mini Skirt
View Similar Items
1990s Alaia Black Iconic Mini Skirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 19.3 in (49 cm)Waist: 22.05 in (56 cm)
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1872677872
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.
- Yves Saint Laurent 1991 Gold Tone Jacquard Mini Skirt YSLBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Paris, FRYSL Yves Saint Laurent gold-tone jacquard mini skirt featuring a wool blend an all-over jacquard motive, an high waist, front pockets, full lining and a side zip opening. In good ...Category
1990s French Pencil Skirts
- 1970s Lanvin Blue Geometric Wool Pleated SkirtBy Lanvin Paris, Jeanne LanvinLocated in Paris, FR1970s Lanvin blue wool pleated skirt featuring a geometric motive, a side zipped opening, a side button, a plain blue waistband, a mid-length. Composition...Category
1970s French Pleated Skirts
- 1970s Celine Wool Pleated Check SkirtBy CelineLocated in Paris, FRCeline wool pleated check skirt featuring multicolour check pattern, knife-pleat design, high-waisted and belted waist with iconic leather detail. 100% wool Estimated size 38fr/US6 /...Category
1970s French Pleated Skirts
- Comme des Garcons CDG Printed SkirtBy Comme des Garçons, Rei KawakuboLocated in Paris, FRComme des Garcons CDG printed fluid skirt featuring a white with a contrasting floral black print all over, this feminine midi skirt presents a gathered design in its straight fit. W...Category
1990s Japanese Skirts
- YSL Yves Saint Laurent Multicoloured Wool SkirtBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Paris, FRYSL Yves Saint Laurent multicolored wool etamine wrapped skirt featuring a multicolored print on a black ground, a thin black satin waistband. In good v...Category
1970s French Wrap Skirts
- Chanel Black Cotton Tweed Lace SkirtBy Chanel, Karl LagerfeldLocated in Paris, FRChanel black fancy tweed pleated skirt featuring a textured cotton tweed fabric, a bottom lace finishing, a front shiny fancy button and logo hidden buttons, side pockets, full sil...Category
Early 2000s French Skirts
- Lanvin Hiver 2006 Black Silk Skirt with Side Button Closure.By Lanvin ParisLocated in West Palm Beach, FLLanvin black silk chiffon skirt has a velvet waist band and padded silk satin hem band, the chiffon of the skirt is draped vertically over a silk knit lining. This unique skirt close...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Pleated Skirts
- Roberto Cavalli Pencil Skirt Semi Sheer Pleated Ruffle Hem Black SBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Miami, FLGuaranteed authentic Roberto Cavalli black pencil skirt. Skirt has 1.75" translucent pleated fringe at bottom. Hidden rear zip with hook and eye at waist. Fabric is wool, nylon an...Category
2010s Pencil Skirts
- Vintage Valentino Boutique Brown Wool Skirt With PocketsBy ValentinoLocated in Portland, ORWe love this classic brown wool pencil skirt from Valentino Boutique. This vintage Valentino skirt came from an estate we acquired many years a...Category
1980s Italian Skirts
- Michael Kors Collection Size 12 Pink + Brown + Tan 2000s Cotton Striped SkirtBy Michael KorsLocated in San Diego, CAChic early 2000s MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION Size 12 striped cotton skirt ! Features pretty colors of pink, brown, tan and white throughout. Hidden zipper up the side with hook-and-eye c...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pencil Skirts
- Vintage Liberty Print Wool SkirtBy Liberty of LondonLocated in London, GBA pretty vintage wool skirt by Liberty of London. The skirt has a cream background with a green and purple floral print. It has an elasticated wais...Category
1970s British Skirts
- 1990s Jungle Pictorial Beaded SkirtLocated in San Francisco, CA1990s pictorial black silk skreit with heavy beading account for about one-third of the entire skirt. The beads depict a few tigers and a zebra. The hem lays above the knee and the b...Category
1990s Skirts