Maison Alaïa

Photographed by Acielle / Style du Monde
Sixteen months after the pandemic hit Europe, the fall 2021 couture shows mark our semi-official “return” to live and in-person fashion shows. Many of us will still be viewing the collections online—we’re extra excited about Pieter Mulier’s debut at Alaïa and Demna Gvasalia’s first couture collection for Balenciaga—but for those lucky enough to attend IRL, the inevitable question is: What to wear? Will editors and influencers dust off the runway pieces and heels in the back of their closets, or will they be influenced by the casual, experimental looks we saw outside the menswear shows? Style du Monde’s Acielle is on the ground in Paris to find out. Scroll through her latest street style photos below, and come back for her daily updates.

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Originally published on Vogue.com

Cindy Bruna wears Azzedine Alaïa. Photo: Instagram/ @maisonalaia

Since his passing in 2017, Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaïa has been immortalized through his iconic brand and genius designs. Over the last three years, some of the biggest names in fashion have paid tribute to the creative maestro. One of the latest stars to honor the great designer is French-Italian supermodel, Cindy Bruna, who recently celebrated Maison Alaïa’s new Editions collection by starring in a video, sharing her fondest memories of working with the King of Cling.
The three-minute video, developed by global e-tailer Net-a-Porter and titled “First Time…with Alaïa”, saw Vogue Arabia December cover star Bruna feature alongside British model Yasmin LeBon and Chinese actor Zhu Zhu, as the trio discussed their experiences working with Alaïa.
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“This first piece I ever got from Alaïa was a T-shirt, that he gave me when I was 17,” says Bruna. “Obviously, I still have that piece. I just love it. It was really special because it was a gift from him,” she adds.
One of the 26-year-old model’s first jobs was with Alaïa. The Tunisian couturier took Bruna under his wing as she first stepped into the modeling world. When asked about her favorite memory of working with Alaïa, Bruna noted an encounter in his kitchen as one of the best moments she shared with the designer. “It was his jokes and the realness of the moment that we were all sharing together. Spending a week with him and his team and all the models, it was really, really precious,” she said.
“I can really say that he was the one who made me believe in myself, even when I was actually doubted in the model industry,” she added. “That gave me the strength to finish school, move to Paris, and start my career.”
The late Azzedine Alaïa and Carla Sozzani. Photo: Sylvie Delpech

Alaïa passed away on November 18, 2017, but has left behind an everlasting legacy, with his creations still adored across the world by celebrities including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Kate Moss, and his long-time friend Naomi Campbell. Continuing the designer’s work, Masion Alaïa recently released its Editions SS21 wardrobe, recreated from the archives between 1981-2017, through a visual dance masterpiece.
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A still from the artistic dance of Alaïa’s Editions SS21 wardrobe performed by Hajiba Fahmy. Photo: Courtesy of Alaïa

The house of fashion maestro Azzedine Alaïa has just revealed its SS21 Editions series of cult pieces, in honor of the late Tunisian designer. Embracing nostalgia, the collection has been recreated from the archives between 1981-2017, and was presented through an artistic dance performance.
Maison Alaïa‘s latest wardrobe was introduced by Godmother of the Editions: supermodel Naomi Campbell who was joined by fellow model Karlie Kloss on the brand’s Instagram page, as they discussed the timeless silhouettes that have been reimagined for the new collection. The artistic performance was then shared across the Maison’s Instagram and YouTube platforms.

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A visual masterpiece, the dance presentation of the collection, which is the first ever in Alaïa’s history, was performed by French-Moroccan talent Hajiba Fahmy. Described by the Maison as a “force of nature”, Fahmy is a creative star in her own right. For the past five years she has been working with Béyonce, joining the singer on her world tours, including her famous Coachella performance. The dancer and choreographer wore an elegant Alaïa creation as she performed the dance.
Screening in Dubai of Alaïa’s Editions SS21 wardrobe including a special display of three Editions looks. Photo: Courtesy of Alaïa

Live streamed from the cultural arts center La Gaité Lyrique in Paris, the powerful performance highlighted women at the heart of the iconic label, and literally shone a spotlight on the intricate details and exquisite craftsmanship of the SS21 Editions wardrobe.
Alaia corset handbag

The performance was screened at the Nasab Rooftop in Dubai to a host of special guests, including UAE-based influencer Rania Fawaz, Egyptian actor Salma Abu Deif and Lebanese-Iranian fashion journalist Diala Makki. As part of the event, a special display of three Editions looks were showcased on mannequins. Guests were also given an exclusive first look at the new Corset handbags, which are inspired by the iconic Alaïa belt silhouette.
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