Azzedine Alaia - Spring 2009________________________________
Genius is a word that is just as bastardized as other words such as luxury, couture and talent. Nowadays, with the over-glut of contemporary fashion, Hollywood influence and youth culture, anything with a sequin or a ruffle is considered couture. Anything that has half of a percent of cashmere is thought of as luxury. Anyone that produces anything is deemed talented. I truly believe that the commercialization and normalization of high fashion has actually been one of the biggest contributors to its recent marginalization. Too much fashion, too often, for too many to participate and partake. When you have nobody-ass socialites and dim witted celebs dictating fashion, baby, we have a problem.
But we still have Azzedine!!!!!!!! Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus and Praise the Lord!!!!!!! This is a man that has stayed true to his beliefs and vision for his entire career. He bucks the prevailing trends and always ONLY fine tunes his own statement. And to top it all off, he has stayed in business the entire time. Now I don't know if he has some fierce tree behind his maison that produces Euros and dollars, but he has maintained for decades without normal seasonal showings or ads.
I personally think that the future of fashion is in the ultra individualized visions of people such as Donna Karan's Urban Zen, Commes des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Chado Ralph Rucci and of course, Azzedine Alaia. Donna, Rei, Yohji, Ralph and Azzedine have one thing in common (other than lots of money!) - they are singular visionaries who stay true to their course of creative expression. Now that is great inspiration - DO YOU, BOO!!!
PS - That snakeskin, trench, pouf dress is working me overtime.................
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