Alaia Black “Bottines” slingback heels - Size 37.5
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:West Palm Beach, FL
- Reference Number:
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: West Palm Beach, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Jimmy Choo Black Patent Strappy Sandal Heels - 40By Jimmy ChooLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJimmy Choo Black Patent Strappy Sandal Heels - 40. These adorable Jimmy Choo heels are in excellent condition with only minimal wear to the sole. They feature a simple, but feminin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Jimmy Choo Purple and Coral Lizard Woven Slide Heels - 39By Jimmy ChooLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJimmy Choo Purple and Coral Lizard Woven Slides with Heels - 39. These slides are purple lizard-skin with single-woven strips. They are in excellent condition and show only minor wea...Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Shoes
- Emilio Pucci Black Satin Strappy Sandal Heels w/ Rhinestone Detail - 41By Emilio PucciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLEmilio Pucci Black Satin Strappy Sandal Heels w/ Rhinestone Detail - 41. These beautiful heels are in excellent condition with only minimal wear to the sole from minor use. They fe...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- YSL Champagne Colored Satin Strappy Thick Straw Wedges - 41By Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Palm Beach, FLYSL Champagne Colored Satin Strapped Thick Straw Wedge - 41. These thick, straw, wedges have metallic champagne colored satin straps interweaving on the top of the shoes. They are in...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoes
- Salvatore Ferragamo Black Pony Hair Loafers w/ Silver Front Buckle - 7AABy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in West Palm Beach, FLSalvatore Ferragamo Black Pony Hair Loafers w/ Silver Front Buckle - 7AA. These shoes have minor wear at the bottom of the soul and a small piece of the rubber underneath that is mi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- Salvatore Ferragamo Black Woven Leather Pump - 7AABy Salvatore FerragamoLocated in West Palm Beach, FLSalvatore Ferragamo Black Woven Leather Pump - 7AA. These shoes are in excellent condition with only visible wear to the soles. They feature a lovely black leather, an intricate wo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shoes
- 2000s Versace Satin Lace Up Heels (37)By VersaceLocated in Rochester, GBIconic vintage Versace black lace up heels from the early 2000s, in a black satin finish. Gold leather to the heel bases featuring the brands Versace log...Category
Early 2000s Shoes
- Mach & Mach Silver Double Bow 100 Crystal Pvc PumpsLocated in Scottsdale, AZIntroducing the epitome of elegance and glamour: the Mach & Mach Silver Double Bow 100 Crystal PVC Pumps. Crafted with precision and passion in Italy, these stunning shoes are a test...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Black Gucci Suede Peep-Toe Slingbacks Size 37Located in New York, NYPre-owned. Very good. Minimal wear throughout. Slight discoloration at outer soles.Category
2010s Shoes
- Brown Luciano Barbera Croc Loafers Size 37By Luciano BarberaLocated in New York, NYBrown croc skin loafers by Luciano Barbera. Stacked heels. 1" heel height.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Shoes
- Brown Alice + Olivia Suede Mid-Calf Cowboy Boots Size 39.5By Alice + OliviaLocated in New York, NYBrown suede pointed-toe mid-calf cowboy boots by Alice + Olivia. Stacked heels. 6.5" shaft height, 3.75" heel height.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Shoes
- 1990s Dolce & Gabbana Brown Neoprene Boot Heels Size 38.5By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous pair of brown neoprene Dolce and Gabbana heeled boots. From the late 1990s, these never before worn vintage boots are perfectly modern. The boots feature a small platform and patent leather toe. These rare boots...Category
1990s Italian Shoes