TWO MASTERS OF COUTURE: LA GALERIE DIOR AND THE AZZEDINE ALAÏA FOUNDATION PRESENT AN EXCEPTIONAL DOUBLE EXHIBITION

words by PHOEBE GIBSON-DOUGALL

I’ve heard it said many a time of athletes, authors, and artists that “game recognises game”, a simple proclamation that declares a master’s stamp of approval. In the realm of fashion, this maxim could be said of many accomplished designers and their admiration for their peers, but perhaps the ultimate example of this is Azzedine Alaïa’s love for Christian Dior. This autumn, to celebrate the late designer’s ardent admiration of Dior, La Galerie Dior and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation are presenting an exceptional double exhibition highlighting the figure of Azzedine Alaïa and displaying his extensive Dior collection.

image courtesy of DIOR

From very early on, Azzedine Alaïa started building a significant heritage collection that reflected the art of the greatest couturiers. In the utmost secrecy, he meticulously selected each piece, with Dior occupying a particularly special place in his inventory.  Luckily for us, the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation has preserved some 600 pieces, with more than a hundred of these set to be unveiled at La Galerie Dior. The exhibition will emphasise the designer’s admiration for not just Christian Dior, but also his successors, from Yves Saint Laurent to John Galliano. 

“Christian Dior’s models testify to the relentless quest that Azzedine Alaïa had unwaveringly set his heart upon. In search of the mysteries of dresses and the delicate structures that make vaporous petticoats ‘standup’, he skilfully brought together the objects of his adolescent dreams,” said Olivier Saillard, famed fashion historian.

At the helm of this project is Saillard, whose position as director of the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation lends another dimension of expertise to his curation, as does his close collaboration with fellow curator Gaël Mamine.

In parallel to La Galerie Dior’s showcase, the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation is presenting a unique exhibition of the works of these two “masters of couture” at its Paris venue. As it happens, Azzedine Alaïa who was hired by Dior for a few days in 1956, and the designer had fond memories of the demanding workshops on avenue Montaigne. The French couturier of Tunisian origin was so inspired by Dior, and the influence of the New Look was expressed in Alaïa’s work. To demonstrate this influence thirty Christian Dior designs from Alaïa’s collection will be displayed alongside several of his own creations in a celebration of the two masters.

A must-see for fashion devotee, this dual exhibition offers a new interpretation of the history of the House of Dior through the eyes of a discerning collector, while revealing a series of captivating correspondences between Christian Dior and Azzedine Alaïa.

Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior collection is on display at La Galerie Dior from November 20, 2025, to May 3, 2026. At the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior, Two Masters of Couture is open from December 1, 2025, to May 3, 2026.