After working as an apprentice for the Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, and Guy Laroche, Alaia started his own fashion line in the early 1980s. His designs were notably figure-hugging, accentuating the bust, and cinching the waist. The New York Times called him a "sculptor of the female form."
Alaia was known for being outspoken. He criticized fashion legends such as Vogue's Anna Wintour for her style and designer Karl Lagerfeld, who he said had "never touched a pair of scissors."
On November 18, 2017, it was announced Alaia had passed away.