Fashion designer Azzedine Alaia 1940-2017
Naomi Campbell poses with Tunisian-born fashion designer Azzedine Alaia at the Groninger Museum, in Groningen, Netherland, December 10, 2011.
A fashion rebel, the designer dubbed the "King of Cling" for the form-fitting designs he popularized during the 1980s created fashions for top models, international movie stars and the elite of Paris.
Alaia's death was announced on Saturday, November 17, 2017. He was 77.
Alaia Exhibition
Azzedine Alaia was born on February 26, 1940 in Tunis, Tunisia. A family friend helped enroll him in the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied sculpture, and earned money for art supplies by working for a dressmaker. His introduction into Parisian society led to creating dresses for socialites and movie stars such as Arletty and Greta Garbo.
Though he was hired by Guy Laroche, Thierry Mugler and, for five days, Christian Dior (before the outbreak of the Algerian War made his employment there untenable), he worked primarily on his own, and opened his own firm in the late 1970s. In 1984 he was voted Best Designer of the Year by the French Ministry of Culture.
Pictured: A visitor looks at fashion by designer Azzedine Alaia on June 11, 2013 at the Museum NRW-Forum in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Sofia Coppola
"Lost in Translation" director Sofia Coppola poses backstage at the 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 25, 2004 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell, a favored model of Alaia's, poses in one of his creations at the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Morton's on February 25, 2007 in West Hollywood, Calif.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham arrives at the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Morton's on February 25, 2007 in West Hollywood, Calif. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Ashlee Simpson
Singer Ashlee Simpson arrives at the 2007 CosmoGIRL! Born to Lead Awards at Hearst Tower on November 13, 2007 in New York City. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Penelope Cruz
Actress Penelope Cruz arrives at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Michelle Obama
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrive at City Hall in Baden-Baden, Germany on April 3, 2009. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Zoe Saldana
Actress Zoe Saldana attends the U.K. premiere of "Star Trek" held at the Empire Leicester Square on April 20, 2009 in London. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Doutzen Kroes
Model Doutzen Kroes attends the "Looking for Eric" premiere held at the Palais Des Festivals during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2009 in Cannes, France. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Katie Holmes
Actress Katie Holmes attends the 16th Annual Elle Women in Hollywood Tribute at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 19, 2009 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook arrives for the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards at Banqueting House on November 2, 2010 in London. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell attends the premiere of "The Beaver" at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2011 in Cannes, France. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Jessica Stam
Model Jessica Stam, wearing Azzedina Alaia, attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin Spring/Summer 2012 at the Brandenburg Gate on July 7, 2011 in Berlin.
Bar Refaeli
Bar Refaeli dances at the Chain of Hope Charity Event at the National History Museum on November 10, 2011 in London, England. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
LeAnn Rimes
Singer LeAnn Rimes performs onstage at the American Giving Awards held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on December 9, 2011 in Los Angeles. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Shakira
Shakira arrives at the Hotel Majestic on January 28, 2012 in Cannes, France. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Charlize Theron
Actress Charlize Theron arrives at the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium on January 12, 2012 in Los Angeles. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Kendall Jenner
Model Kendall Jenner attends the Los Angeles premiere of "The Hunger Games" on March 12, 2012. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Alicia Keys
Singer Alicia Keys arrives at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Diane Kruger
Actress Diane Kruger attends the "Farewell, My Queen" Screening at the Museum of Modern Art, July 9, 2012 in New York City. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Rihanna
Rihanna arrives at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A visitor looks at fashion designed by Azzedine Alaia on June 11, 2013 at the Museum NRW-Forum in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A visitor looks at a dress designed by Azzedine Alaia on June 11, 2013 at the Museum NRW-Forum in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A visitor looks at a jacket from the Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2003 collection of Tunisian-born French fashion designer Azzedine Alaia, presented for the first Paris retrospective of the couturier at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A woman looks at a dress of designer Azzedine Alaia during his exhibition at the Palais Galliera, on September 25, 2013, in Paris.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
Visitors look at the "Bustier crocodile" by fashion designer Azzedine Alaia, at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013.
Naomi Campbell
Supermodel Naomi Campbell poses with an Azzedine Alaia creation at the the first Paris retrospective of the couturier, at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Sept. 25, 2013.
Lady Gaga
Singer Lady Gaga poses on the red carpet for the 87th Academy Awards on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Irina Shayk
Russian actress Irina Shayk attends a photocall for "Hercules" in London's Trafalgar Square, July 2, 2014. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Monica Bellucci
Actress Monica Bellucci poses at the EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House on February 8, 2015 in London. Dress by Azzadine Alaia.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A creation by Tunisian-born, Paris-based couturier Azzedine Alaia is displayed during the press preview of the exhibition "Azzedine Alaia's soft sculpture" at the Galleria Borghese in Rome on July 10, 2015.
Azzedine Alaia Exhibition
A creation by Tunisian-born, Paris-based couturier Azzedine Alaia is displayed during the press preview of the exhibition "Azzedine Alaia's soft sculpture" at the Galleria Borghese in Rome on July 10, 2015.
In Memoriam
A photo of a 2017 Azzedine Alaia Haute Couture A/W jacquard knit dress and matching belt, posted on Alaia's Instagram account on November 17, 2017, was flooded with memorial messages when news broke that the 77-year-old designer had died.
Azzedine Alaia
Designer Azzedine Alaia (1940-2017).
"I don't think really new ideas can come out every two months. It's not possible," he told Women's Wear Daily in 2016. "That's why now there is a lot of vintage. There's too much vintage - in all the houses, it's too much. We don't have good ideas every day, it's not possible. … When you have one in the year, that's already good."
And what is your latest good idea, he was asked? "It hasn't come yet, I'm running after it!" he laughed. "I'm on horseback, like a cowboy."
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan