A dialogue between the creations of the two designers.
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.
Published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris, in 2026.
Azzedine Alaïa (1935-2017) was a French-Tunisian designer and couturier, internationally renowned for his sculptural gowns. He earned recognition for his unparalleled mastery of cut, placing him at the same level of legendary couturiers like Balenciaga and Vionnet. He was a great collector, having acquired over 15,000 pieces of the most important masters in the fashion history spanning from the 18th to the 21st.
Christian Dior (1905‑1957) was one of the most influential couturiers of the 20th century and the founder of the House of Dior in 1946. Renowned for revolutionizing postwar fashion, Dior introduced the iconic New Look in 1947, characterized by feminine silhouettes with cinched waists, full skirts, and soft shoulders. His work embodied elegance, refinement, and an obsessive attention to sartorial detail. His legacy has profoundly influenced generations of designers, including
Azzedine Alaïa, who regarded Dior as a model of craftsmanship and dedication to the art of dressmaking.
