Tunisian-born designer Azzedine Alaïa got out of his six-year hiatus to present his fall 2017 collection at Paris Couture Week.
The designer is known for not following the traditional fashion calendar even before Kenzo and Vetements did it. His last couture show was in 2011 with Karlie Kloss opening the show. Before that, he was on hiatus for eight years. So every time he holds a show, it’s always a rare and exciting sight.
This year was no different as guests flocked to his show and critics couldn’t get enough of his latest designs. If you missed out, here are some of the highlights.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell opened and closed the show
Naomi Campbell has been Azzedine’s muse for more than 20 years. She also lived with the designer in Paris when she was still starting out. For the show, Naomi walked out in a black and white fur coat, and closed the show wearing a shimmer black and silver gown. She, along with the other models, also sported a towering plastic turban. Aside from the clothes, people were at awe with Naomi’s signature supermodel walk.
Karlie Kloss was an androgynous beauty
Azzedine brought back Karlie Kloss for his couture show, and she looked androgynous and beautiful. Karlie exuded an edgy vibe while walking in an all-black Victorian-inspired ruffled dress. Her second look—a leather trench coat with stockings—was equally strong. Plus, her hair is now platinum blonde and was slicked back to show off her bone structure.
Front row spotting
Fast & the Furious star Michelle Rodriguez turned heads with her blue sequined gown as she watched the show. Also in attendance were Louis Vuitton artistic director Nicolas Ghesquiere, fashion editor Simone Marchetti, and Moda Operandi co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo.
What critics are saying about the collection
The collection was a mix of monochromes with pops of red. According to WWD, the materials and the textures feel “subtle but rich, that makes it feel like it’s something one hasn’t seen before.” The site also cited Azzedine’s vision inspired by the looks of African queens.
Meanwhile, The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman noted how people would run to the metro instead of their cars so they can rush to the show.
Only fear of missing Azzedine Alaia's 1st #couture show in 6 yrs could make so many fashion people rush to the metro instead of their car.
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) July 5, 2017
Chief fashion correspondent Alexander Fury also shared how Azzedine said that he’s “content” with his collection.
Lunch with Azzedine Alaïa before his show. Is he happy with the clothes? "I'm content." The highest praise from an absolute perfectionist 💘
— Alexander Fury (@AlexanderFury) July 5, 2017
This is the definition of good things come to those who wait. Here’s hoping that it doesn’t take Azzedine Alaïa six to eight years to release another couture collection.
Photo courtesy of Azzedine Alaïa’s Instagram account
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