Vintage Black Alaia Vintage Top With Cap Sleeves
View Similar Items
Vintage Black Alaia Vintage Top With Cap Sleeves
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:Seller: 67851stDibs: LU22323634071
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 Jean Charles de Castelbajac Blue Striped Red Apple Cardigan SweaterBy JC DE CASTELBAJAC, Jean-Charles de CastelbajacLocated in Portland, ORThis is a great vintage 1980s JC De Castelbajac vintage cardigan sweater in blue tonal horizontal stripes with red striped trim and a red app...Category
1980s Italian Cardigans
- Valentino 2pc Vintage Long Sleeve Top & Cardigan Sweater in Blue & Green PlaidBy ValentinoLocated in Portland, ORWe absolutely love this sweater top and cardigan ensemble from Valentino Boutique.Entirely knit, even though the cardigan looks like a blazer or a jacket. The button front cardigan ...Category
1980s Italian Cardigans
- Vintage Gianni Versace Abstract Baroque Print Wool Pullover SweaterBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage 1980's or early 1990's Gianni Versace wool knit sweater has beautiful and bright colorful woven abstract baroque details in shades of orange, green, red and purple. The ...Category
1980s Italian Pullovers
$348 Sale Price49% Off - Chanel Cashmere Blend Textured Beaded Green Pullover 2010 Runway SweaterBy Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Portland, ORThis is a Pre-Fall 2010 Chanel pullover sweater top in a gorgeous green stretch cashmere blend. The sweater has a round neck and is accented with brick red beads. The collar, cuffs, ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pullovers
- Sonia Rykiel Vintage Sweater With Sequins & Peek A Boo Sleeves Made in FranceBy Sonia RykielLocated in Portland, ORThis is an outstanding vintage black sweater from Sonia Rykiel. The statement raglan sleeves have zig zag or criss cross sequins that reveal jus...Category
1980s French Pullovers
- Sonia Rykiel Vintage Pink & Black Wool Bow Sweater TopBy Sonia RykielLocated in Portland, ORVintage Sonia Rykiel tops and sweaters are so essential to add to any vintage collector's wardrobe! If you are wanting something that not only is historically significant, but can be seamlessly added to a modern wardrobe, this is the perfect piece for you! Sonia Rykiel began her career with a sweater and continued to design them throughout her career. This one is so much fun in a magenta pink and black stripe wool. The top has a button closure at collar hidden by a pretty black wool bow, raglan type sleeves, and sewn in shoulder pads for just the right amount of structure. The ribbed waistband has an attached tie and the label reads;Sonia Rykiel Paris Made in Italy. There is also a U Chicago store...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- 2013 Off-White Black Oversized Intarsia CardiganBy Off-WhiteLocated in Scottsdale, AZGet your perfect winter sweater just in time for the season! Stay warm in the most fashionable cardigan out there with the coolest off-white branding Virgil 1st collection! This is an OFF-WHITE "Main Label" oversize knit cardigan in black and off-white wool (72%) and polyamide (28%) with "OFF" and "© 2013" printed on large folded over cuffs. The oversized fit and the thick knit will keep your warm on the chilliest days. Has one slip pocket on the front. Choose to wear this cardigan closed by using the four front with large snap buttons or open to layer. Unlined. This sweater is in great condition with no notable flaws. Pair this cardigan with some Gucci Tom Ford leather pants...Category
2010s American Cardigans
- 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford Psychedelic Silk Print Wool Panel Cardigan SweaterBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a floral print Gucci cardigan, designed by Tom Ford. From 1996, this black wool cardigan features a v-neckline and front button closure. The cardigan is made complete with...Category
1990s Italian Cardigans
- 1980s Gucci GG Logo Vintage Hunting Bird Oversized Turtleneck SweaterBy GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare oversized 'GG' logo wool and alpaca pullover turtleneck sweater designed by Gucci in the 1980s for their menswear line. The tonal logo is accented with an image of a pheasant-like bird as an homage to Gucci's sportswear DNA. This vintage piece can be dressed up or down by any wearer and looks like it came straight from the set of...Category
1980s Italian Pullovers
- F/W 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford Double Buckle Black Knit Wool Cardigan TopBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an open black knit Gucci cardigan, designed by Tom Ford. From the Fall/Winter 1998 collection, this incredible cardigan features two closures at the front, each marked 'Gucci', which tactfully leave the sweater slightly open. The sweater is made complete with diagonal perforated stripe details at the front. A rare piece of early Gucci...Category
1990s Italian Cardigans
- 1990s Gianni Versace Black White Cheetah Print Stretch Knit Sweater TopBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black and white cheetah print Gianni Versace sweater, designed by Gianni Versace. From the 1990s, this beautiful sweater is covered in bla...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- 2008 Roberto Cavalli Red Chinoiserie Trim Black Stretch Knit Kimono CapeBy Roberto CavalliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful kimono-style Roberto Cavalli knit cardigan sweater. From 2008, this fabulous sweater features fabric that hangs from the ar...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cardigans