If There’s Anything We Love More It’s Delving Into The 90s Vault
Last month it was Mugler, this month its Azzedine Alaïa. The pioneering designer and father of the modern legging has been on the tips of the tongues of everyone from the likes of Anna Wintour, Kim Kardashian West, and Naomi Campbell – one of Alaïa’s original muses.
In his peak, the designer even received a shoutout from ‘Clueless’ fashionphile Cher Horowitz, putting the name on the map to even those outside the typical fashion community.
Alaïa was pivotal to way that we understand female form. His training as a sculptor was prominent in his work as he created more molded shapes like the fit and flair and nipped-in waist.
The designer transitioned the modern styles from the flowy, bulking pieces, to form-fitting ensembles that accentuated women’s bodies. Alaïa is also hailed as the inventor of the bodycon dress and popularized the legging.
In the heat of the over glamorized 90s, Alaïa was the first designer to believe that fashion should be timeless. He was a praised constructionist who thoughtfully worked with luxury materials that would last for generations. Almost like he knew his ensembles would become legendary archival pieces.
Alaïa was one of the few designers the disregarded any traditional advertising campaign. He became one of the most sought after ready to wear designers of his decade without even having a fashion magazine spread or major campaign.
In addition to his rejection of mainstream marketing , Alaïa was the first major designer to retire from the fashion show schedule with the notion that one season wasn’t a true reflection of the passing trends.
Alaïa passed away in late 2017, but his influence on industry will last forever. His name will be forever be associated with luxury and curve hugging clothing.
