“The foundation of beauty is the body,” said the Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaïa (1935–2017). A trained sculptor, Alaïa’s designs embodied his unique understanding of the female form while challenging preconceived notions of femininity. Alaïa wanted women to look and feel divine, a goal he achieved by constructing dresses directly on a model’s body rather than on a mannequin. Fans of the movie Clueless may recall the protest of a distressed Cher (Alicia Silverstone), when told by a mugger at a gas station to get down on the ground: “But this is an Alaïa!” SCAD’s exhibition in Lacoste features a selection of sleek suites and exquisite gowns from the designer’s archives. —Nyla Gilstrap