ALAIA Black Knee Length Skirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Thousand Oaks, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU126638206891
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: Thousand Oaks, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Chanel Black Tweed Skirt Size 36 NBWBy ChanelLocated in Thousand Oaks, CACLASSIC Chanel black tweed mini skirt. This skirt is a such a staple/classic edition to your wardrobe. New with tags, never been worn. Size 36 Retails for over $1500Category
2010s French Skirts
- Chanel High Waisted Black, White and Pink Plaid SkirtBy ChanelLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAChanel High-Waisted Black, White and Pink Plaid Skirt Plaid and tweed mini skirt. High waisted fit with ruffle at the bottom. Very "Cher" from Clueless vi...Category
Early 2000s Skirts
- Yohji Yamamoto Black Skirt Size 1By Yohji YamamotoLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAYohji Yamamoto Black Skirt with floral detailing. Size 1 . Tags attached, never been worn. Great classic piece. Skirt sits on your true waist and hits ankle height, with a slight ...Category
2010s Japanese Skirts
- Alexandre Vauthier Gold Layered Skirt Size 38By Alexandre VauthierLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAGold skirt by Alexandre Vauthier with asymmetric layered tiers and fitted waistband. Size 38. Good condition. Show stopperCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Skirts
- Paco Rabanne Mosaic Metal Skirt Size 40By Paco RabanneLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAThis skirt is a piece of art. Wrap in style, long in length, with slit opening. The belt is brown leather. with a silver ring and can be wrapped and adjusted for one's interpretation...Category
2010s Wrap Skirts
- Stella McCartney Navy GownBy Stella McCartneyLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAStella McCartney long sleeve velvet and mesh navy gown. Contrasting navy toned panels. Concealed back zipper. New with tags. Size IT 42 (fits like ...Category
2010s Evening Gowns
- Joseph Belted Sash Black Skirt Size UK LBy JosephLocated in New York, NYThis is a skirt full of delightful surprises. It moves with you. Hidden slits and flaps, wrapped belted waist gives a variety of options for styling. The long sash belt allows for...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Bulgarian Skirts
- John Galliano SS-2011 Wool Ruffled Hem Knee Length SkirtBy John GallianoLocated in Brussels, BEThe genius of John Galliano was his ability to make even the most traditional shapes alluring and seductive, adding his own personal twist to classical dressing. This stylish knee le...Category
2010s French 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 brown Leopard trim...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pencil Skirts
- Comme des Garçons Skirt AD 2003By Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons, Comme des GarçonsLocated in Berlin, BEFabulous pleated maxi skirt from Junya Watanabe for Comme des CDG AD 2003 Collection. Punk style, tattoo print. Size M.Category
Early 2000s Japanese Pleated Skirts
- GIANNI VERSACE Vintage Bondage SkirtBy Versus, Gianni VersaceLocated in Georgetown, MERare Vintage GIANNI VERSACE Short Long Bondage Skirt. This incredible Versace skirt features gold lion head buttons and bondage accents. It's love. Desi...Category
1990s Italian Pencil Skirts
- Jean Paul Gaultier Jeans "Fight Racism" Skirt 1997By Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Venezia, ITJean Paul Gaultier Jeans "Fight Racism" Skirt Fall / Winter 1997 Size: 42 Materials: 100% Cotton Measures: Waist 40cm / Length 45cm Conditions: Excellent.Category
1990s Skirts