About Time: Fashion and Duration

Exploring the symbiotic relationship between fashion and time, this exhibition—a celebration of The Met’s 150th anniversary—presented 150 years of fashion (from 1870 to today) culled almost exclusively from The Costume Institute’s collection.

Amongst the pieces exhibited, the majority of which are black in color in order to highlight the links between the shapes, materials, and decorative elements, are three designs by Azzedine Alaïa. A dress from 1986 in black jersey where traditional seams are erased, replaced by lines of stitches that snake around the body, accentuating its curves.
A dress from 1994, featuring alternating bands of black and white knit that highlight the contours of the silhouette. And a haute couture dress from 2003, whose sole decoration is a zipper, spiraling down from the top of the bust to the hem. Alaïa began experimenting with zippers around the 1980s. In this particular piece, he has used the zipper almost like an integral seam to trace but also, to enhance the contours of the body.

Known for his exacting standards and for his pairing of traditional couture techniques with innovative materials, these three creations are a perfectly representative example of the craftsmanship and virtuosity of the couturier.