This Newly-Opened Exhibit Is Your Crash Course on the Legacy of Azzedine Alaïa

The late Azzedine Alaïa clocked in at around five feet tall, but his influence on fashion towered over his diminutive height. The Tunisian designer, who passed away last November, is being honoured in an exhib­ition at the Design Museum in London, England, opening today.

Alaïa himself hand-picked over 60 of the garments that will be on display, all of which demonstrate his mastery of the art of tailoring and the witchcraft of flattering women’s bodies. His designs highlighted nipped-in waists, strong shoulders and narrow hips and almost single-handedly ushered in the era of supermodel killer curves. Despite his strong association with the power silhouettes of the ’80s, Alaïa’s pieces still retain their influence, and his slinky designs have found modern devotees in Victoria Beckham, Diane Kruger and Kim Kardashian West. Thanks to this exhibit, the King of Cling reigns on.