Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: two masters of haute couture

Abstract

"It was in Tunisia, when he was still a teenager, that the young Alaïa first discovered the creations of Christian Dior through the fashion magazines by Madame Pinault. In 1956, upon his arrival in Paris, he undertook a brief four-day internship at Maison Dior, immersing himself in the unique atmosphere of a fashion house, observing the work of the head of the atelier, and witnessing the creation of a collection. This formative experience would be recalled with emotion for many years to come. The book 'Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior. Two Masters of Haute Couture' presents a dialogue between Azzedine Alaïa's works and the pieces that the couturier himself patiently collected from Christian Dior. It highlights ideas of style and creation that--despite being separated by three decades--echo, converge, or stand in contrast to one another, bearing witness to a shared sensibility across time."-- Publisher's website.