Most of my friends would NOT associate the word sexy with me, I am anti-sexy, I would not even begin to know 
how to envision sexy. But lately, I have been really interested in the Tunisian born designer Azzedine Alaia – the epitome of 80’s sexy power dressing. Surprising eh? I mean, this is the guy dubbed ‘King of Cling’ – I on the other hand hardly wear anything that clings because I’m no Christy Turlington alas…
But I just love the way Alaia appreciates the female form. He calls himself a ‘builder’ rather than a designer because he is a couturier architect, emphasising structure and purity of form. 
The technicality of his garments are designed to fit as snugly as possible. Normally, this would ring the slutty level alarm bells for me. However the purist aesthetic is just so admirable. The execution of Alaia’s garments is also 
impeccable. His interest in the female form is not to be flashy or outrageous but instead, he concentrates on the age-old techniques of corsetry, whaleboning and stays to structure his garments. I tried on a beautiful black corset dress in knitted jersey in the Antwerp Comme Des Garcons store last year and it made me feel like a different person like I could be sexy, well at least, my kind of sexy. It almost empowered me. I doubt a label that supposedly sells sex like Cavalli could make me feel this way.
His innovation with the use of fabrics is also wonderful. In the 80’s there was his use of rivetted leather, knit fabrics and experimental mixes of lace, leather, silk jersey and tweed. Then of course in the 90’s there was his pioneering fabric ‘Relax’, an anti-stress fabric that repelled electromagnetic waves.
Bottom line is if I could afford it, Alaia would definitely fufill my secret desire to look sexy, MY kind of sexy!
I am in love with Alaia too. I think I read he lives in his factory… how insanely cool is that, I wish I lived in my own factory…