Premiering earlier this summer, the Galleria Borghese in Rome is currently exhibiting a show on the works of couturier Azzedine Alaïa. The designer is best known for his statuesque and form-fitting, dresses tailored for celebrities like Madonna, Tina Turner, and Naomi Campbell. The exhibition, “Couture/Sclupture” elevates Alaïa’s designs to new heights and highlights the designer’s background in sculpture. The designer studied sculpture at École des Beaux-Arts in Tunis where he also investigated the human form. Shortly after graduating, he moved to Paris and started his career in fashion, working with brands like Christian Dior and Guy Laroche before starting a brand of his own.
His “soft-sculptures” are presented alongside the Galleria’s expansive colored marble, plaster, and bronze collection. Presented as a history of fashion, the exhibition studies female form and goes from nudes to Alaïa’s dresses. Each garment is organized by decade and color, the chiseled dresses fitting seamlessly in the gallery. The exhibition is on view until October 25.
