Two exhibitions trace the career of the iconic Franco-Tunisian stylist and couturier, a true sculptor of the female body.
Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017) left an indelible mark on the history of fashion from the 1980s onward. This lover of women knew how to play with shapes and curves, volumes and materials to sculpt the outfits of his models, such as Naomi Campbell, Grace Jones, and Stephanie Seymour. His most beautiful designs were created for Greta Garbo, Arletty, and Louise de Vilmorin. “Alaïa Before Alaïa: The Genesis of a Style” retraces the designer’s formative years, from his departure from Tunis for Paris in the 1950s to his rise to prominence in the early 1980s. Presented under the glass roof of the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, this unprecedented exhibition tells the story of the great couturier, from the legacy of his sculpture studies at the Beaux-Arts, to the women and men who influenced him, the creation of his atelier-house, and his mastery of leather, jersey, and stretch fabrics. The exhibition is punctuated by a selection of dresses and creations from his early days that defined the “Alaïa style.”
Timeless aesthetic
This visit is perfectly complemented by a trip to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) in Lacoste, Provence. The exhibition "Azzedine Alaïa: The Art of Fashion" was launched on the occasion of the 20the anniversary of the global establishment of the American university.
Among blouses, dresses, and suits, 20 pieces representative of the great couturier's career celebrate his artistic and stylistic achievements. Presented as masterpieces, these garments come from the personal archives of his Foundation. This virtuoso of cut and proportion, often seen in his iconic black Chinese suit, is considered the last heir to the great tradition of couturier-sculptors-architects. Today, his status as a discreet icon endures thanks to his gift for designing clothes that revealed, enhanced, and draped the feminine silhouette like a second skin.
“Alaïa before Alaïa: The Genesis of a Style” – Azzedine Alaïa Foundation
18, rue de la Verrerie, Paris 4e
Until 23 October 2022
“Azzedine Alaïa: The Art of Fashion” – SCAD FASH Lacoste
Rue du Four, Lacoste
Until 29 October 2022
https://www.scad.edu/locations/lacoste
Nathalie Dassa