1994 F/W Gianni Versace Couture Gold Oroton Metal Mesh Chainmail Top & Skirt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (EU)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 26 in (66.04 cm)Hip: 44 in (111.76 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Studio City, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU35721606512
Gianni Versace Couture
Subversive, maximalist and unabashedly seductive, Gianni Versace’s (1946–97) designs infused high fashion with an entirely new ethos. “I don’t believe in good taste,” the legendary Italian couturier once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life.
Today, vintage Versace clothing, handbags and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant. The designer debuted his Atelier Versace line — which was part of the first Versace haute couture collection — in 1989.
More than any designer before him, Versace mined celebrity, music and Pop art for inspiration. In fact, the New York Times noted in 1997 that the fashion industry “is now driven by contemporary culture because Mr. Versace made it that way.”
Insiders consider his 1991/1992 Autumn/Winter runway show — which featured supermodels Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista lip-synching George Michael’s “Freedom! '90” — the moment when the two worlds of fashion and pop culture became one, changing both forever.
Versace was born in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. His mother was a successful dressmaker who employed more than 40 seamstresses. As a child, little Gianni marveled at her workshop, which would become a university of sorts, where he learned the exceptional construction techniques that were at the foundation of his creative expression.
In 1972, at age 25, Versace moved to Milan to work in fashion. He launched his first collection — and his label — in 1978, with his older brother Santo managing the business concerns. Soon, sister Donatella, whom Gianni dressed and took to discos when she was still a child, joined the family venture, where she had a creative role and managed enormously popular ready-to-wear lines such as Versus.
Vintage Versace — and 1989's Gianni Versace Couture — has become catnip for modern fashion enthusiasts who seek out the now-iconic house codes that originated in the designs of the 1980s and 1990s. His glamorous and seductive apparel — the clingy skirts and slender, strappy party dresses, as well as the erotic magazine ads that publicized them — looms large, but Versace’s art and historical influences were also vast.
Versace was an art collector, and he took on commissions to create costumes for theatrical performances during the 1980s and spoke of looking to numerous cultures for inspiration. This adventurous spirit of design resulted in his creating jewel-toned prints rooted in Grecian motifs, Etruscan symbols, the Italian Baroque and Andy Warholʼs Marilyn Monroe. There were slinky dresses in Oroton, his patented chain-mail textile that draped like satin, and leather bondage ensembles. Sex sold, for both women and men. Wrote the late curator Richard Martin, “[Versace] became the standard-bearer of gay men’s fashion because he eschewed decorum and designed for desire.”
Following Versace’s tragic murder in 1997, Donatella took over the role of artistic director and continued to evolve the house codes with a twist of her feminine and feminist perspective. Today, Santo Versace is chief executive officer of Versace and Donatella is its chief creative officer.
Browse an extraordinary collection of vintage Gianni Versace Couture bags, dresses and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Studio City, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1990s Versace Couture Black Party Dress w/Medusa ButtonsBy VersaceLocated in Studio City, CA1990's Versace couture label black mini dress with boning at the bodice and transparent "Medusa" buttons at the straps. In excellent condition. No size ...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Pierre Cardin Space Age Pink Satin Mini Dress w/Circle Motif ca.1969By Pierre CardinLocated in Studio City, CAThis luxurious 1969 pink satin shift mini-dress is a masterful example of Pierre Cardin’s “Space Age” creations. With its recti-linear shape that stands away from the body, Cardin fr...Category
1960s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Betsey Johnson "Screw" Print Stretch Bodycon DressBy Betsey JohnsonLocated in Studio City, CABetsey Johnson "Vintage" label gray "screw" print on black background cotton stretch long sleeved body con dress with criss cross design at open back. Never been worn with original t...Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1970's Courreges Black A-Line Evening Gown w/Cap Sleeves & Floral CutoutsBy André CourrègesLocated in Studio City, CA1970’s Courreges “Couture Future” black wool A-line evening gown with cap sleeves and floral cutouts at neckline. Cutouts are backed by stretch nylon with sequin detail at center flo...Category
1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Chloe Hand Painted Silk Multi-Layered Gown w/Hand Written French PrintBy ChloéLocated in Studio City, CAVintage Chloe orange-pink silk spagetti strap maxi dress w/layers that can be worn multiple ways. Hand-painted gold writing at bottom in French. In excellent condition. Size EU 38. ...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Arnold Scaasi Black Velvet Evening Gown w/Red Sequin Floral PatternBy Arnold ScaasiLocated in Studio City, CA1980's Arnold Scaasi black velvet strapless evening gown with allover red sequin floral print. In excellent condition with minor sequin loss at back zipper. Size 6. MEASUREMENTS: B...Category
1980s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Peplos
- Mariano Fortuny Amethyst Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated amythest colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton DelphosBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived.
Named after a Greek clas...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Claret Delphos. Provenance Tina ChowBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated claret colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The beads are amber glass with...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Rare Shell Pink Long Sleeved Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYDescription: This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns