Azzedine Alaia and Christian Dior

The visual dialogue between two maitre couturiers featuring the best creations of Azzedine Alaia and Christian Dior

It was in Tunisia, when he was still a teenager, that the young Alaïa first discovered the creations of Christian Dior through fashion magazines made available to him by Madame Pinault. In 1956, on his arrival in Paris, he undertook a brief four-day internship with the great couturier, whom he had always admired. During this time, he immersed himself in the unique atmosphere of a fashion house, observed the work of the head of the atelier, and witnessed the creation of a collection... This seminal experience would be spoken of with emotion for many years to come.

The book Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Couture offers a dialogue between Azzedine Alaïa's models and those that the couturier patiently collected from Christian Dior. It highlights concepts of style and creation that, despite being separated by several decades, respond to, unite or confront each other, bearing witness to a shared sensibility over time.

Review

'“A powerful dialogue between two masters of haute couture.”' - Arab News

About the Author

Carla Sozzani served as editor-in-chief for all of Italian Vogue's special issues and in 1986, she was appointed by Alexander Liberman as editor-at-large for American Vogue in Italy. In 1987, Sozzani launched and edited the Italian edition of Elle. In 1990, she founded the Galleria Carla Sozzani at 10 Corso Como in Milan. The gallery primarily focused on photography and published exhibition catalogues and books on the work of Walter Albini, Pierre Cardin, Rudi Gernreich, Paco Rabanne, as well as numerous photographers. She subsequently oversaw more than 250 exhibitions of photography and design, presenting the works of artists such as Man Ray, Horst, Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, David La Chapelle, just to name a few.
In 2002, she opened 10 Corso Como Comme des Garçons in Tokyo a co-venture store with Rei Kawakubo. In 2008, in a joint venture with Samsung Group, she created 10 Corso Como in Seoul, a three-story location combining fashion, art, design, and cuisine, designed by Kris Ruhs. In 2012, 10 Corso Como opened its second location in Seoul, 10 Corso Como. In 2013, Sozzani partnered with Trendy International Group to bring the 10 Corso Como concept to China. The new 10 Corso Como Shanghai opened in a freestanding glass building, featuring photography, fashion, design, music, cuisine, a pastry café, and an outdoor terrace surrounded by plants.