Vintage Alaia Black Fitted Wool Blazer with Velvet Applique NWOT 1991
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (EU)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Style:1990s (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU453929923
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: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Vintage Dolce & Gabbana Brown Mink Fur Jacket with Fur Collar and Belt 2004By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Dolce & Gabbana dark brown mink fur jacket featuring a dramatic oversized brown fur collar, leather waist belt, and flared sleeves ...Category
Early 2000s Jackets
- Vintage Dolce & Gabbana Black Satin ShrugBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Dolce & Gabbana black satin shrug jacket with dropped shoulder and elongated sleeves. Excellent Vintage Condition. Size 42Category
Late 20th Century Italian Jackets
- Comme des Garcons Floral Flat Collection Jacket 2012By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Los Angeles, CAComme des Garcons grey wool felt "Flat" collection jacket with floral print. AW 2012.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Cropped Jackets
- Comme des Garcons Navy Padded Jacket 2010By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Los Angeles, CAComme des Garcons Navy Padded Jacket 2010Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Jackets
- Comme des Garcons Bad Taste Black Velvet Coat 2008By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Los Angeles, CAComme des Garcons Bad Taste Black Velvet Coat 2008Category
20th Century Japanese Jackets
- Vivienne Westwood Black Shearling CoatBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in Los Angeles, CAVivienne Westwood black suede shearling coat with Orb buttons. Gold label collection.Category
20th Century British Jackets
- Dolce&Gabbana Men Fur Vest Vintage Mainline Size 50IT (M), S432By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Kaunas, LTItem for sale is 100% genuine Dolce&Gabbana Fur Men Minimalistic Vest, S432 Color: Black (An actual color may a bit vary due to individual computer screen interpretation) Material: 6...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Vests
- Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 2003 Runway Collection Fur Leather Brown Jacket It 38By Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXTom Ford for Gucci Fox Fur Leather Jacket F/W 2003 Runway Collection Italian size 38 Color - Brown, 100% Real Fox , 100% Leather (super soft) Fron...Category
Early 2000s Italian Jackets
- 2010 Chanel "Shanghai Collection" Black Leather Jacket w/ CamelliasBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in Gresham, OR2010 Chanel "Shanghai Collection" Black Lambskin Leather Jacket w/ Gorgeous Camellia Designs. Table-cut and topstitched camellias form a 3-dimensional effect. Front patch pockets, in...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Jackets
- 1960s Black Cotton Jacquard Fitted Long Coat, 60sLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1960s Black Cotton Jacquard evening long coat/ Jacket with 2 front pockets.. This coat is in excellent condition and is barely worn. coat is lined beautifully in silk jacquard. Fi...Category
1960s French Dinner Jackets
- Lanvin Runway Silk Hand-Painted Ombré Floral Dress Jacket w Shoulder PleatsBy Lanvin ParisLocated in Gresham, ORLanvin cotton and silk, hand-painted ombré floral tunic length jacket with front zip closure, no collar and voluminous pleated shoulder detail. Great seaming details at side waist. ...Category
1990s French Jackets
- Thierry Mugler crop embroidered denim jacketBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Milano, IT- About 80s - Sold by Skof.Archive - Blue crop jacket - Logo embroidered on the back - Button closure Size : FR 38 - EN 42 - UK 10 - US 6 (EU) Shoulder 45 cm / 18" Sleeves 28 cm /...Category
1980s French Jackets