The Fashion Moment: Alaïa

Gentle Reader -

The current fashion moment is about Azzedine Alaïa. After his 1980's heyday, he remained on his own course, only to return to this moment.

This is not Monsieur Alaïa's first return to the fashion moment - that marvelous (if very brief) time when a designer's point-of-view IS the view. Sometimes that fashion moment is only two seconds. At other times, it can be a whole era.

In Alaïa's case, the fashion moment tends to be both brief and periodic. However, there is always a deepening of fashion understanding. Alaïa cannot be defined solely by dress shapes or decorative effects.

Alaïa is a master of technique and a continual reminder that the skills required in the haute couture do not belong solely to the haute couture.

- AP