Gorgeous Fall 2000 Azzedine Alaia Documented Flared Stretch Knit Floral Pattern Skirt

Azzedine Alaia pieces are always a delight to find. His knits were all self developed and are among the best out there. He started his career as a dressmakers assistant  and copied couture gown for wealthy Tunisian clients. In 1957 he moved to Paris and worked for Christian Dior for a grand total of five days. He then moved to Guy Laroche and quietly started to get private commissions on the side. By 1960 he was doing mainly private work and within a few years established a small salon on the Left Bank where he continued designing privately. He stayed at that salon until 1984. During this time period he also did private freelance work for other designers including Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler and even Yves Saint Laurent. It was not until 1981 that he launched his first official collection and by 1983 he had a boutique in Beverley Hills. The French Ministry of Culture honored him with the Designer of the Year award in 1985. In 1993 he decided that the established fashion show schedule was not for him and he eschewed producing a new collection every season. Instead he showed when his collections were ready and continued to do so until his death in 2017. 

Alaia cut the pattern and assembled the prototype for every single piece that he created. He was one of the few designers that often worked on a live model and many give this as the credit for his incredibly flattering pieces. He hated undergarments and instead made his pieces work to shape the body on their own. He developed his own proprietary knits and they are this incredible combination of give and take. This skirt is from the Fall 2000 collection and was made in both a long and short length as well as two colour ways. Included here is an editorial shot of the more pink, long version of the skirt and it gives you an idea of its incredible fit. The upper part of the skirt hugs the hips to shape them and then the skirt flares out from there. I love the gored effect created by the knit opening into angled vertical seams. Inside each panel are flowers that trail down the full length of this part of the skirt. Each is woven directly into the knit and the colours are gorgeous and vibrant. Very easy to wear and a great piece of Alaia to add to any collection. Excellent condition 

Unlined and slips on to wear. The fabric has stretch so should fit a range of sizes. The measurements below are the comfortable range of stretch when laying flat. It will probably stretch a little more on an actual body. Tagged a vintage Alaia XS

Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 25.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# S952

Reference Photo: ELLE US, September 2000. Photographed by Gilles Bensimon.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.