September 25, 2013 |
AZZEDINE ALAIA: PARIS RETROSPECTIVE AT PALAIS GALLIERA
Fans the world over are set to totter their way over to the opening of Mr. Alaia’s retrospective in Paris this month- totter being the operative word, as true Alaia lovers will of course spend the majority of their lives in his glorious heels. The opening of the exhibit just so happens to coincide with Antony’s birthday on Saturday, although it may as well be Sophia’s today- as along with the rest of the journeying upper rungs of Team 10, our Editrix in chief (number 1 fan if ever there was one) is off to a special preview tonight. The exhibit will chart Azzedine’s rise from his formative years creating made to measure garments for the likes of Greta Garbo, to the presentation of his first signature collection in 1979 already imbued with his…well-*signature sculpted aesthetic, created through jerseys, stretch fabrics, and a uniquely delicate approach to leathers. Then on through the coterie of beautiful friends the designer gathered and dressed in the 80’s and 1990’s- famously including my personal trinity fave Ms. Campbell. And finally the late noughties, with his works breathtaking re-emergence on the catwalk in July of 2011 (to the finale sounds of Beyonce’s Girl’s (who run the world) no less) after an 8 year sabbatical. All of this info is of course garnered from nothing more than a kindly provided press release. Seeing will naturally be believing…maybe even weeping? Tonight’s Blackberry snaps are yet to testify. Personally I’d give pretty much anything to hot foot it onto a Eurostar right now, remembering vividly my first experience of the designers exquisite wares. That enormous coat dress in burgundy croc, arriving in a coffin sized box, and not packed, so much as stuffed with tissue, so as to resemble a living breathing woman itself. Clothes that are clearly created with love, and if we haven’t already made explicitly clear- loved truly, madly, deeply by all at 10 in return.
Image: © Patrick Demarchelier
The Musée Galliera will open to the public on September 28 (free entry on September 28 and 29). Alaïa runs through January 26, 2014.
by Vincent Levy
