Alaia Black 1950s-Inspired Little Black Dress w Full Skirt Eyelet Hem & Inserts
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38 (US)
- Style:50s Retro (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Gresham, OR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5020257872
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Gresham, OR
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1980s James Galanos Black & White Chrysanthemum Print Sheath w Sheer Snood HoodBy James GalanosLocated in Gresham, OR1980s James Galanos Black & White Chrysanthemum Print Sheath w Sheer Snood Hood: A spectacular print in silk crepe, knee length with large black silk gazar bow at front, banded waist...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- Missoni Multi Color Lurex Rib Knit Flared Dress w Butterfly Crossed BackBy MissoniLocated in Gresham, ORMissoni Multi Color Lurex Rib Knit Flared Dress w Butterfly Crossed Back: Lurex knit with stretch in rainbow colors. Pull over, no closures. Excellent condition. Marked a European s...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1980 Pauline Trigere Red Silk Taffeta & Black Lace Overlay Cocktail DressBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Gresham, ORA beautiful and dramatic 1980s Pauline Trigere red silk taffeta cocktail dress with gorgeous black lace overlay: Puff-sleeved with a black velvet belt tied at center front, this bold...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1970 Saz Deep Navy Silk Boho Midi Dress W/ Colorful Embroidery & BeadworkLocated in Gresham, OR1970s "Saz - by Surjit and Adarsh Gill" deep navy silk boho midi dress with beautiful embroidered and beaded colorful florals. Fitted Empire bodice with bell sleeves and pleated skir...Category
1970s American Casual Dresses
- 1960 Spectacular Mr. Blackwell Custom Rhinestone Jeweled Black Cocktail DressBy Mr. BlackwellLocated in Gresham, OR1960 Spectacular Mr. Blackwell Custom Rhinestone Jeweled Cocktail Dress. Black wool knit knee-length dress with an amazing Art Nouveau-style silver rhinestone, beaded and sequined fr...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1980 Galanos Silk Chiffon Print Bold Shoulder Cocktail Dress W/ Crystal BeadingBy Galanos, James GalanosLocated in Gresham, ORJames Galanos 1980s silk devore cocktail dress embellished with a universe of crystals, beads and bling! A bold 80s high-syle shoulder silhouette with a draped bodice and fitted wai...Category
1980s American Shift Cocktail Dresses
- 1990's Moschino Cheap & Chic "Not Just A Pretty Dress" Velvet Studded DressBy Moschino Cheap and ChicLocated in Concord, NCMoschino Cheap and Chic 1990's black velvet form fitting dress with a whimsical quote studded on the front stating "Not Just A Pretty Dre...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Antonio Berardi FW-2004 Silk Sleeveless Print DressBy Antonio BerardiLocated in Brussels, BEDespite being born in the UK, Antonio Berardi’s roots are Sicilian ones, explaining his love of drama and femininity. This gorgeous silk dress, which mixes a variety of prints and mo...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- Comme Des Garcons bias cut satin jersey dress, ss 1986By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Melbourne, AUThis Comme Des Garcons satin jersey dress from the Fall-Winter 1986 Bias Cutting collection is a great example of the brand’s innovative approach to fashion design. Renowned for thei...Category
1980s Japanese Day Dresses
- A rare vintage 1970’s Roberta Di Camerino printed cotton jersey day dressBy Roberta Di CamerinoLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUThis rare and collectible vintage 1970’s Roberta DI Camerino calf length day dress in black with cobalt blue undulating all over print in cotton jersey fabric is a super stylish addi...Category
1970s Italian Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Vintage 1990’s Jean Paul Gaultier cable knit dress with glomesh cowl frontBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUThis incredibly unique piece of 1990's Jean Paul Gaultier Maille Femme is an unusual mix of cable knit and glomesh/metal micro sequin style. The dress has exceptionally long wrap ties in the cable knit fabric that wrap twice around the bodice covering the glomesh fabric. This really is a piece of fashion history from the French master of unique clothing...Category
1990s Italian Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Dolce & Gabbana Magazine Print DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis dress is a must have in your closet! Circa early 2000s, this dress features a magazine print top with an open back and bra closure. Perfect to throw on with your favorite lace u...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses