Vintage Alaia Black Off the Shoulder Dress & Bolero Ensemble 1992
View Similar Items
Vintage Alaia Black Off the Shoulder Dress & Bolero Ensemble 1992
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small (US)
- Style:1990s (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU456949021
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.
- Vintage Moschino Couture 1993/94 Bustier & Skirt EnsembleBy Moschino CoutureLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Moschino Couture "Wham!" ensemble by Franco Moschino that features a button front black wool bustier top with an adjustable back bu...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vintage Moschino Black Leather Skirt Suit with Gold Chain Tassels 1989By MoschinoLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Moschino by Franco Moschino black leather motorcycle jacket and skirt. Both pieces feature gold thimbles with gold chains. Like new...Category
1980s Italian Skirt Suits
- Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Red Satin & Black Lace EnsembleBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Yves Saint Laurent red satin and black lace evening ensemble featuring a delicately gathered blouse with lace yoke, 3/4 length sleeves with ruf...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana Black And White Polka Dot Skirt EnsembleBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Dolce & Gabbana empire top and skirt ensemble featuring a dot print top and black stretchy tube skirt. with dot chiffon ruffle. Do...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Chanel Black Skirt Suit With Iconic Bead & Pearl Necklace PrintBy ChanelLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld black skirt suit featuring a button front jacket, bow collar, covered buttons, iconic bead and pearl necklace...Category
Early 2000s French Skirt Suits
- Gaultier Brown Embroidered Brocade BlazerBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier plum blazer featuring embroidery and trim detailing, a flared peplum, and two rows of buttons along the front. ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit bodycon dress and cardigan set, fw 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit dress and cardigan 2 piece set ▪ Sleeveless bodycon maxi dress with lining ▪ Long-sleeve full-length cardigan ▪ Gold Medusa buttons ▪ Can be wo...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace multicoloured velvet mini dress and leggings set, fw 1992By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace multicoloured velvet mini dress and leggings set ▪ All over abstract print in blue, purple, pink, red and gold ▪ Turtle neck m...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vivienne Westwood rope print knitted cowl-neck top and drape skirt set, ss 1998By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood rayon-knit top and skirt 2-piece set ▪ Allover beige rope print ▪ Cowl-neck top ▪ Draped knee-length skirt with elasticated waistband ▪ Size Medium ▪ 100% Rayo...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana tiger print and denim 3-piece skirt suit, fw 1999By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana 3-piece skirt suit ▪ Fitted jacket in black denim with red contrast topstitch ▪ Bra-top with open back and tiger-print front with sequins ▪ Low-rise maxi skirt w...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Gianni Versace black wool double strap playsuit with gold crystal studs, ss 1992By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace black evening playsuit ▪ Double strap ▪ Sweetheart neckline ▪ Bow and criss-cross detail at center-front ▪ Gold studs with crystals ▪ 62% Virgin Wool, 38% Silk ...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Yohji Yamamoto black silk skirt suit with voluminous padded cuffs, fw 2003By Yohji YamamotoLocated in London, GB▪ Yohji Yamamoto black silk suit skirt ▪ Single-breasted jacket ▪ Detachable voluminous padded cuffs ▪ Ankle-length skirt with back kick split ▪ SI...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Suits, Outfits and Ensembles