Following an extensive four year renovation project

for building safety and accessibility

The Palais Galliera,  Fashion Museum –  City of Paris

is set to re-open its doors on Saturday,  28 September 2013 –

amidst mounting anticipation.

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(image from worldtoptop.com):

The Palais Galliera

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An amazing resource for fashion historians, researchers,

students, fashionistas and the general public –

The Palais Galliera boasts over 100,000 pieces of

clothing and accessories, which represents

French fashion sensibilities from

the eighteenth century to the present day.

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In addition to these wonderful items in the permanent collection,

The Palias Galliera will host

 a retrospective show on the work of fashion designer

Azzedine Alaia

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(image from zimbio.com):

designer, Azzedine Alaia

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The exhibition features 70 dresses from the Alaia archives.

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In the beginning:

  Born in Tunisia, 1949  –  Azzedine Alaia

started his career as a dressmaker’s assistant.

He studied sculpture at an Ecole des Beau – Arts in Tunis.

It was there that he developed a keen observational/appreciative

eye for the human form and contours –

which would later translate into his fashion creations.

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Mr. Alaia relocated to Paris in 1957

to pursue a career in fashion design.

During these early years,  he worked first at Christian Dior,

then Guy Larouche and later Thierry Muglar.

His immense talent was soon realised and

sought after by an impressive international clientele .

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He debuted his first collection in 1979 and

 his status as a designer extraordinaire swiftly followed.

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Known as the “King of Cling”

for his form fit, body conscious aesthetics

his clothing was integral to defining 80s and 90s fashion.

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(image from balharbourshops.com):

Models wearing Alaia

photo by Gilles Bensimon – 1990

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(image from tinaturnerblog.com):

Mr. Alaia has dressed music talents such as Tina Turner

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(image from theodora.com):

and the current FLOTUS  (First Lady of the United States)

Michelle Obama

The French government acknowledged Azzedine Alaia’s

contribution to the French fashion industry by naming him

Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur,

awarded in 2008.

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It seems fitting that the grand re-opening of

The Palais Galliera

should also serve as occasion to honour couturier

Azzedine Alaia

whose design vision has remained true

to construction and impeccable fit.

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(image from peter.lindbergh.free.fr ):

A Lookback:

A young Naomi Campbell

wears Alaia for French Vogue, 1989

photo by Peter Lindbergh

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(image from guestofaguest.com):

Grace Jones, 1990

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The Palais Galliera, Fashion Museum – City of Paris

Reopens:   Saturday, 28 September 2013

Featuring:   Alaia:  a retrospective exhibition

on the work of  Azzedine Alaia

28 September 2013 – 26 January 2014

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(image from telegraph.co.uk):

A peek inside the Alaia exhibition

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