Azzedine Alaie exhibition

« My obsession is to make women beautiful. When you create with that in mind, things can't go out of fashion. » - Azzedine Alaïa “The Azzedine Alaïa Association was holding an exhibition in Paris entitled “L’alchemie secrete dune collection”, centered on the designer’s 1992 collection inspired by Madame de Pompadour.Azzedine Alaïa’s fascination with Madame de Pompadour was partly due to the discovery he made when he bought and renovated the building at 18, rue de la Verrerie, Paris, in 1987. It was there in fact that the young Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the future Marquise de Pompadour and mistress of Louis XV, was schooled in the arts necessary to forge ahead at the royal court.The 1992 collection incorporated elements reminiscent of XVIII century gowns and corsets, all in delicate “broderie anglaise”, masculine fashion lines also appeared in short jackets and long sleeves, as wells redingotes and light coats.

And he added humorous and ironical trope l’ceil “mon coeur best à papa”, while embroidered and printed floral motifs decorated the stretch dresses. The 1992 summer collection was the largest Azzedine Aliau had ever presented with over 115 outfits.

Months and months of preparation went into the conception and execution of each piece. Always personally crafted by him, his creative work was done in solitude, standing at the table in his studio during nights spent cutting and sewing. All of his motional forces were joined and grew into this collection where his fascination with Madam Pompadour met his fascination with the power and freedom of a truly feminine woman. “