Alaia Dove Grey Structured Wool Dress Coat
View Similar Items
Alaia Dove Grey Structured Wool Dress Coat
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Toronto, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU203927342
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.
- Chanel Chartreuse Lambskin 3/4 Coat - 40 - 04CBy ChanelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLChanel Chartreuse Lambskin 3/4 Coat - 40 - 04C. This beautiful 3/4 coat has 4 pocket slits, big "CC" buttons, long sleeves and a collar. It is in ver...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Coats and Outerwear
$3,200 Sale Price20% Off - James Perse Gray Wool Black Ribbed Trench Coat ShirtLocated in Downey, CAJames Perse Gray Wool Black Ribbed Trench Coat Shirt James Perse simple takes on coats are a must have for your closet! Made with quality materials and made in the USA . Add a stapl...Category
2010s American Coats
- S.T. Dupont Motorsport Nascar Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon Reversible CoatLocated in Downey, CAS.T. Dupont Motorsport Nascar Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon Reversible Coat This Oversize Multi Fabric Blend Reversible Jeff Gordon Bomber Jacket is cool and stylish. It features...Category
2010s Coats
- Comme Des Garcons X Supreme Polka Dot Logo Print Men's HoodieBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Downey, CAComme Des Garcons X Supreme Polka Dot Logo Print Men's Hoodie The Comme Des Garcons x SUPREME polka dot box logo pullover hoodie is another fine example of the minimal styling and a...Category
2010s Japanese Hooded Jackets
- Gucci Small Scarlet 80's Sold Out Rare Hoodie GG-0624N-0002By GucciLocated in Downey, CAGucci Small Scarlet 80's Sold Out Rare Hoodie GG-0624N-0002 Fresh from the House of Gucci brings a sweatshirt continues to evolve with each new collection, the Oversize GUCCI print ...Category
2010s Hooded Jackets
- James Perse Gray Vintage Full Zip Hoodie ShirtLocated in Downey, CAJames Perse Gray Vintage Full Zip Hoodie Shirt Simple cuts made with quality materials, James Perse is a must for any minimalist. A easy throw on for any o...Category
2010s American Hooded Jackets