Alaïa Khaki 1980s Skirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2252212481092
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Chanel Boutique Chocolate Brown Leather SkirtBy Chanel BoutiqueLocated in London, GBA chocolate brown leather skirt from the Chanel Boutique line. This mid-rise skirt consists of thin panels stitched together in a topstitched desi...Category
20th Century Skirts
- 1990s Christian Dior Chiffon SkirtBy Christian DiorLocated in London, GBA mid 1990’s Christian Dior Boutique black fine silk chiffon mini-skirt, in a sun-ray pleated design, featuring a ruched stitched-down detail in a line...Category
20th Century Skirts
- Mid 2000s Chloé Pearl White Ruffled SkirtBy ChloéLocated in London, GBA Chloé pearl white skirt from the mid-2000s adorned in tiered ruffles from the hip down. The skirt is mid-thigh length fastened with a zip along the centr...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Ruffled Skirts
- 1970s Loewe Brown Wool CoatBy LoeweLocated in London, GBA brown Loewe coat made of virgin wool. This long wool coat features four self-covered buttons going down the main bodice of the coat. An asymmetric folded collar is a key feature of...Category
20th Century Coats and Outerwear
- Dolce & Gabbana Trousers In a 60s Inspired Print Spring 2004By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBDolce & Gabbana tailored trousers in a stylised floral 1960s style print in shades of brown and orange from the spring 2004 collection. Complimenting ivory topstitching to the front ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pants
- Tom Ford Yellow and Green Leopard Print DressBy Tom FordLocated in London, GBThis Tom Ford halter neck dress features a bright and eye-catching print of chartreuse green and yellow leopard print. The body is covered in layered ruffles right up to the tight co...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alexander McQueen Cashmere Skirt F/W 2004By Alexander McQueenLocated in Venezia, ITAlexander McQueen Skirt F/W 2004 Size: 42 Materials: 100% Cashmere Measures: Waist 40cm / Lenght 53cm - NO RETURNSCategory
Early 2000s Italian Circle Skirts
- Alaïa nude pink knitted texturized viscose A line knee length flare skirtBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Milano, ITAlaïa Y2K nude pink knitted texturized viscose A line knee length flare skirt (XS) Back zip and hook & eye closure Unlined 95% viscose, 5% nylon Size XS, check the measurements bel...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Circle Skirts
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford SS-02 Cotton Laced Safari Skirt with Leopard TrimBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Brussels, BEThe sexy pencil skirt was a piece that Carine Roitfeld, Tom Ford’s longtime stylist and former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief, made quite popular in the early noughties. Roitfeld was obsessed with the rigor and discipline of uniforms, but she kept looking for ways to add eroticism to strictly tailored clothes. This military-inspired skirt -with its sensual trim of leopard print chiffon- was an obvious choice for her and hasn’t lost any of its relevance. This is a version of skirt Look 2 as seen on the runway spring/summer 2002, ready-to-wear, model Rie Rasmussen 100% cotton in savana Leopard trim...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pencil Skirts
- VINTAGE 1970’S MISSONI wool tweed A-Line Skirt - Never been WornBy MissoniLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUVintage MISSONI Wool tweed skirt from the 1970's. Never been Worn. With original tag. Beautiful tweed with cumberband waist. Size 40 Italian, Small. Made in Italy. Colour - beig...Category
1970s Italian A-Line Skirts
- Gianni Versace baroque printed silk ruffle tiered skirt, ss 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBIntroducing the exquisite Gianni Versace Baroque printed silk tiered ruffled skirt, a true masterpiece that captures the iconic essence of Versace's bold and opulent style. Adorned ...Category
1990s Italian Skirts
- Gianni Versace embroidered floral skirt with chainmail and beaded belt, fw 1999By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace, embroidered floral above-the-knee pencil skirt. Silver metal mesh chainmail waistband with turquoise hanging beads and red silk lining. Fall-Winter 1999Category
1990s Italian Skirts