ALAIA

Alaïa builds this short poplin shirt with a knitwear sleeve. Crisp cotton forms the body, with a French collar, a concealed placket and V-shaped seams front and back; above the elbow each sleeve gathers into a long rib knit that runs close to the wrist. White poplin makes the change of texture sharp.

Cotton poplin and rib knit meet halfway down the arm on this Alaïa shirt. The body is cut short and cinched, with a French collar, a concealed button placket and V-shaped seams at front and back, while the sleeves gather above the elbow into close ribbed knit to the wrist. In black the two textures separate by sheen alone.

Alaïa knits this crew-neck top in merino at two gauges. The body and sleeves are fine enough to be sheer, cut close from shoulder to hip, then meet deep bands of heavier rib at the hem and cuffs that anchor the line. Worn alone or layered, it is Alaïa's second-skin fit in plain black.

Alaïa works the same multi-gauge merino in rouge: a sheer, fine knit through the body and long sleeves, fitted to the figure, set against wide bands of chunkier rib at the hip and wrist. The contrast of weights is the whole design, and the saturated red makes it plain.

Alaïa's sculpting pointed dress is shaped entirely in the knit. A sheer high neck and yoke sit above a close ribbed bodice; at the waist the ribs open out into a voluminous pleated skirt whose hem drops to points at either side. Black keeps every eye on the shape.

Alaïa lets the rib do the tailoring on this sleeveless skater dress. Vertical ribs hold the crew-neck bodice close, then turn horizontal at the hips and flare into a full skirt, the seam lines curving like the panels of a corset. The weighty wool blend keeps its shape, and lime makes each change of direction easy to follow.