Azzedine Alaia oversized leopard V-neck tunic dress, 1991
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia oversized leopard V-neck tunic dress, 1991
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: FR S (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Fransisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU813711593
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.
- 1980's VALENTINO cream and tan sweater with puff shouldersBy ValentinoLocated in San Fransisco, CACream and tan sweater with puff shoulders designed by Valentino dating to the early 1980's. Best fits an XS or S. Approximate measurements (unstretched)...Category
1980s Italian Pullovers
- 1973 LORIS AZZARO metal chainmail sweaterBy Loris AzzaroLocated in San Fransisco, CAWoven gold and silver metallic sweater intertwined with chain from Loris Azzaro dating to the 1973. Exact style sweater as seen in the Helmut Newton p...Category
1970s French Sweaters
- 1990's COMME DES GARCONS cream crocheted sweaterBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in San Fransisco, CACream crocheted style sweater designed by Rei Kawakubo for Comme Des Garcons dating to the late 1990's or early 2000's. Labeled a size M however it best fits an XS or S. Approximate...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Pullovers
- CELINE by PHOEBE PHILO marled dark grey sweater with patch pocket and split sideBy Celine, Phoebe PhiloLocated in San Fransisco, CADark-grey marled wool and yak sweater with patch pockets, open sides and ribbed trim designed by Phoebe Philo for Celine. French size XS however this has an oversized fit. Approximat...Category
2010s Italian Pullovers
- 1970's MISSONI zig-zag woven cardigan sweaterBy MissoniLocated in San Fransisco, CABlack and off-white zig-zag woven cardigan designed by Missoni dating to the 1970's. Cardigan is labeled an Italian size 38. Approximate un-stretched measurements: bust 36", waist 28...Category
1970s Italian Cardigans
- 1990's ALAIA black open knit tunicBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Fransisco, CAJet back, open knit tunic designed by Azzedine Alaia dating to the 1990's. Labeled a size M. Approximate measurements (unstretched): drop shoulder 20", bust 40", arm length 22" and o...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Moschino "Non è tutto oro quel che luccica" grey gold sweater dressBy MoschinoLocated in Capri, ITMoschino "Non è tutto oro quel che luccica" "not all that glitters is gold" grey gold sweater dress totally made in italy in size M total lenght 95 cmCategory
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1990 Couture Grey Italian Wool Sweater & Teal Taffeta Train Formal Skirt SetBy Michael CaseyLocated in Gresham, OR1990s Michael Casey Couture 2-piece ensemble consisting of a grey high neck knit sweater with long sleeves and back zipper and a floral flocked teal silk taffeta formal skirt...Category
1990s American Pullovers
- 1980s Azzedine Alaia Black Dolman Sleeve Vintage 80s Mini Dress or SweaterBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing early AZZEDINE ALAIA black mini dress or sweater tunic! Incredible design by the body conscious designer, whom always produces figure fl...Category
1980s Italian Mini Dress
- Vintage Azzedine Alaia 1980s Black + Nude Viscose 80s Mini Sweater Dress TunicBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in San Diego, CASexy vintage 1980s AZZEDINE ALAIA black and nude viscose micro mini sweater dress / tunic! Features the most luxurious soft viscose rayon that drapes the body so beautifully. Dolman ...Category
1980s Italian Mini Dress
- Christian Dior by John Galliano purple and gold knitted sweater dress, fw 1999By Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in London, GBChristian Dior by John Galliano purple knitted sweater dress with metallic gold effect and large turtle neck Fall-Winter 1999Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1980s Oscar de la Renta Black Cowl Sweater Mini Dress Pearl Beaded CuffsBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous black Oscar de la Renta cowl neck mini dress. From the 1980s this unique mini dress features internal shoulder pads, a black velvet trim at the hem, and is made...Category
1980s American Pullovers
$1,256 Sale Price30% Off