La Galerie Dior and the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa Unite to Showcase Over a Century of Couture
September 28, 2025 – Dior by Alaïa at La Galerie Dior & “Alaïa & Dior: A Dialogue” at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa Exhibitions
In the hushed, hallowed halls of fashion history, where the legacies of titans are often kept in separate, sacred chapels, a conversation is about to begin. It’s a dialogue whispered from beyond, between two of the 20th century’s most definitive voices: Christian Dior, the architect of postwar glamour, and Azzedine Alaïa, the master of the sculpted, second-skin silhouette. This autumn, Paris will bear witness to this long-awaited tête-à-tête in an unprecedented dual exhibition, celebrating the profound and private passion Alaïa held for the house of Dior.
The Apprentice and the Archive
The bond between Alaïa and Dior tells a tale of near-mythic beginnings. A young, wide-eyed Alaïa arrived in Paris from Tunisia in the 1950s. He set his heart on couture. His first stop was the storied ateliers at 30 Avenue Montaigne.
His tenure lasted only a handful of days. Administrative hurdles forced him out. Yet Dior’s exacting standards burned into his memory. That spark fueled a lifetime of quiet, fervent collection.
Over time, Alaïa’s personal archive swelled to 20,000 pieces. The pantheon included Worth, Chanel, and McQueen. Yet Dior held a singular, privileged place. Alaïa, the ultimate connoisseur, guarded 600 creations by the master himself.
He treated these works as objects of study and devotion. Historian Olivier Saillard, curator of the exhibition, calls them “the objects of his adolescent daydreams.” Alaïa collected them in a relentless quest to grasp the mysteries of dressmaking, how a gown stands, how structure holds, how magic happens.
The Dialogue: Two Exhibitions, One Revelatory Conversation
This autumn, Alaïa’s private daydreams take the spotlight in a brilliant curatorial pas de deux. The dual exhibition unfolds across two iconic Parisian locations. Each presents a distinct perspective on this creative lineage.
First, “Dior by Alaïa” at La Galerie Dior performs a singular act of homage. From November 20, 2025, over a hundred treasures from Alaïa’s collection will be exhibited. They return to the very walls where they were born. For the first time, the maison showcases its history entirely through the discerning eye of another genius.
Simultaneously, the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa orchestrates the dialogue’s response: “Alaïa & Dior: A Dialogue.” Here, curators place thirty Christian Dior pieces in direct conversation with thirty of Alaïa’s own creations. The thesis comes to life. The architecture of a Dior ballgown echoes in the sensual curve of an Alaïa dress. This goes beyond comparing techniques. It reveals a shared DNA, a reverence for the female form, and an unwavering commitment to beauty.
Ultimately, this dual exhibition proposes a radical new reading of fashion’s lineage. Alaïa, often portrayed as the rebellious outsider, appears instead as Dior’s most devoted student. He understood the grammar of the New Look so deeply that he could write his own, equally powerful, language. This autumn, Paris invites us to see both masters anew, illuminated by the light of dialogue.
📍 La Galerie Dior
“Dior by Alaïa: The Collection of a Secret Admirer”
🗓 November 20, 2025 – May 3, 2026
📌 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris
📍 Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
“Alaïa & Dior: A Dialogue”
🗓 December 1, 2025 – May 3, 2026
📌 18 rue de la Verrerie, Paris
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