AZZEDINE ALAÏA

Azzedine Alaïa was a Tunisian couturier and shoe designer, particularly successful beginning in the 1980s.

All these images were commissioned by Azzedine Alaïa for the book Alaïa, Nov 1998.

I remember when I took Grace to Harlem to one of the bars that I enjoyed the most: The Harlem Moon. I loved it so much because of the elegant old men, the round wooden bar, and the sweet smiling barmaid. Grace was dressed with a great leather Alaïa suit and shoes. People were hanging out in the street and looking in the windows on Seventh Avenue, climbing on each other’s shoulders; they loved Grace Jones, old and young people, they were even singing her songs. And Grace was playing with her legs. It was showtime for the crowd and men were calling her name in beautiful expressions. We had a lot of fun. That’s how I love to work!

 

Andy Warhol at Azzedine Alaïa's fashion show.

 

Mark Breland, five-time Golden Glove campion and Olympic Gold Metalist, in his home wearing an Alaïa robe and house shoes.

Mark Breland was my star. So beautiful, so kind. He used to tell me before his fights, “I can’t talk now. I have to make myself mean to win the fight.”

On the screen behind him, you can see his fight. He won by KO that day.