ALAIA black silk SHEER SHORT Cardigan Sweater 42 L
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Zürich, CH
- 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: Zürich, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- CHRISTIAN DIOR navy red white linen 2021 DIORAMOUR STRIPED Sweater 38 SBy Christian DiorLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Christian Dior DiorAmour striped sweater in white, navy blue and red linen (75%), cashmere (18%) and silk (7%). The design features a printed D-Royaume d'Amour motif a...Category
2010s Pullovers
- CHRISTIAN DIOR black wool & cashmere 2021 DIORAMOUR RABBIT Sweater Vest 36 XSBy Christian DiorLocated in Zürich, CHChristian Dior sweater vest in black wool (70%) and cashmere (30%). Features a cropped silhouette, chunky knit with rib-knit hem and neck and intarsia rab...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pullovers
- PROENZA SCHOULER neon lime wool & cotton SLIT SLEEVELESS MOCK Sweater LBy Proenza SchoulerLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Proenza Schouler front and back slit knit sweater in lime green wool (60%), cotton (21%) and cashmere (19%). Features a high neck. Unlined. Has been worn and is in exc...Category
2010s French Pullovers
- HERMES camel & navy cashmere 2019 HOUNDSTOOTH MOCK NECK Sweater 34 XSBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Hermès houndstooth sweater in camel brown, beige, ivory, navy blue and grey cashmere (100%). Features a mock neck, hem and cuffs in ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Cardigans
- CHLOE vanilla wool 2012 FLORAL CROPPED SHORT SLEEVE Sweater M fits SBy ChloéLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Chloé short sleeve sweater in vanilla, brow and red wool (100%) with ribbed hem. Has been worn and is in excellent condition. Measurements Tag Size M (fits small) Siz...Category
2010s French Pullovers
- LOUIS VUITTON multicolor 2020 ZIGZAG SEQUIN Sweater Vest MBy Louis VuittonLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Louis Vuitton zigzag sweater vest in black wool (93%), polyamide (6%) and elastane (1%) and multicolor sequins. Features a henley scoop neck, rib knit neck, armholes a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Cardigans
- Fendi Blush Pink Cashmere Cropped SweaterBy FendiLocated in Scottsdale, AZIntroducing the Fendi Blush Pink Cashmere Cropped Sweater, a luxurious and feminine piece that exudes timeless elegance. Crafted from sumptuously soft cashmere, this ribbed knit swea...Category
2010s Italian Pullovers
- Pink & Navy Gucci Maison De L'Amour Sweatshirt Size US XSBy GucciLocated in New York, NYPink and navy Maison De L'Amour dog print crew neck sweatshirt by Gucci. Rhinestone embellishments at back. 42" bust, 40" shoulder width, 26" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Pullovers
- Balmain Blue Angora Turtle Neck Cropped Sweater MBy BalmainLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Stay warm and stylish at the same time in this fabulous sweater from Balmain. This blue sweater is made of a wool blend and features a cropped design. It flaunts a high neck and long...Category
2010s French Sweaters
- M Missoni Black Patterned Dobby Knit Boxy Sweater Top MBy M MissoniLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Wear this M Missoni top and style up your casual look. Knit with quality fabric, this sweater top has a Boxy shape. This piece features long sleeves and the patterns look sophisticat...Category
2010s Italian Sweater Vests
- Haider Ackermann Black Wool Knit Collared Zip Front Oversized Long Cardigan XXSBy Haider AckermannLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A fine choice for your winter fashion, this Haider Ackermann ribbed cardigan is knit from wool into an oversized style and it features long sleeves and a front zipper.Category
2010s French Cardigans
- Haider Ackermann Black Wool Knit Collared Zip Front Oversized Long Cardigan XXSBy Haider AckermannLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A fine choice for your winter fashion, this Haider Ackermann ribbed cardigan is knit from wool into an oversized style and it features long sleeves and a front zipper.Category
2010s French Cardigans