Azzedine Alaia pink knitted bodysuit, S/S 1992
View Similar Items
Azzedine Alaia pink knitted bodysuit, S/S 1992
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S/M (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14025359721
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.
- Vivienne Westwood metallic silver knitted corset sweater, fw 1993By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood archival corset-sweater ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Fall-Winter 1993 ▪ Open-knit in metallic silver yarn ▪ Built-i...Category
1990s English Corsets
- Vivienne Westwood black satin evening corset, c. 1990sBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood black satin evening corset ▪ Boning designed to cinch the waist and push breasts up ▪ Back zip fastening ▪ FR 38 - U...Category
1990s Italian Corsets
- Gianfranco Ferre black astrakhan fur bodysuit, fw 1999By Gianfranco FerréLocated in London, GB▪ Gianfranco Ferre black astrakhan fur bodysuit ▪ High neck with long fur detail ▪ Power-mesh bodysuit ▪ Astrakhan fur bodice ▪ Zip fastening ▪ IT 4...Category
1990s Italian Bodysuits
- Gucci by Tom Ford black leather 2-piece bra top, ss 2001By Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in London, GB▪ Gucci black leather bra top ▪ Designed by Tom Ford ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Constructed from black lambskin leather ▪ Consists of two...Category
Early 2000s Italian Corsets
- Gucci by Tom Ford pink floral printed silk blouse and panties, ss 1999By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in London, GBGucci by Tom Ford pink floral printed silk chiffon blouse with bow fastening and black knitted panties with leather elastic waistband. Exact look from the runway. Spring-Summer 1999Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Azzedine Alaia navy blue houndstooth 'Tati' corset, ss 1991By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBAzzedine Alaia navy blue houndstooth 'Tati' corset with built in bra. Spring-Summer 1991Category
1990s Italian Corsets
- Vintage ESCADA by Margaretha Ley Pink Sequined Silk Bodysuit Leotard OnesieBy Margaretha LeyLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing vintage ESCADA, by MARGARETHA LEY pink sequined bodysuit! Features a silk bodice with hundreds of pink sequins hand-sewn throughout the front a...Category
1990s German Blouses and Tops
- 1960s Emilio Pucci Printed 3 Piece Lingerie SetBy Emilio PucciLocated in San Francisco, CA1960s Emilio Pucci Printed 3 Piece Lingerie Set. Set consists of bra, half slip, and shorts. Bra size 36B. Size small.Category
1960s Bras
$450 Sale Price21% Off - Oscar de la Renta Pastel Print Longe Gown for Neiman Marcus circa 1990sBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in University City, MOOscar de la Renta pastel print longe gown for Neiman Marcus Size S The stylish abstract print polyester gown is designed luxurious satiny soft breezy light weight fabric The lounge...Category
1990s Chinese Loungewear
- 1990'S GIANNI VERSACE Baby Pink Satin Bra Top Buster BustierBy Gianni VersaceLocated in New York, NY1990'S GIANNI VERSACE Baby Pink Satin Bra Top Buster BustierCategory
1990s Bras
- New Yves Saint Laurent Leopard Polka Dot Purple Red One Piece Swimsuit BodysuitBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in San Diego, CASexy new YVES SAINT LAURENT purple and red leopard print and polka dot one piece swimsuit or bodysuit! Features a leopard print on the bodice and abstract polka dots on the bottom. T...Category
2010s Italian Swimwear
- 2000S MARC JACOBS Lilac Silk & Lace Boho Grunge Slip DressBy Marc JacobsLocated in New York, NYThis dress has an intentional washed and rumpled grunge appearance as is common in Marc's earlier work. 2000S MARC JACOBS Lilac Silk & Lace Boho Grunge Slip DressCategory
Early 2000s Slips
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Azzedine Alaïa Was a Couturier Who Thought Like a Sculptor
The first fashion exhibit to be held at the new London Design Museum celebrates the famed Tunisian-Parisian couturier's lifetime of work.
This Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Ensemble Is Part Zsa Zsa Gabor, Part ‘Blade Runner’
As Burton steps away from the brand, it’s a fitting time to revisit one of her visionary designs.