F/W 1995 Gianni Versace Couture Runway Grey Pleated Silk Velvet Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT44 / US10 (EU)Bust: 35 in (88.9 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Hip: 38 in (96.52 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 41 in (104.14 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear from age and use throughout, including a few small marks on the satin bodice.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388214931252
Gianni Versace
The signature extravagance of legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace — forever aligned with glamour, sex, celebrity and spectacle — can overshadow the Italian couturier’s broad and deep engagement with history and culture. Today, his vintage dresses and gowns, handbags, sunglasses and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant.
More than any designer before him, Versace mined celebrity, music and Pop art for inspiration, and his subversive, maximalist and unabashedly seductive designs infused high fashion with an entirely new ethos. “I don’t believe in good taste,” he once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life.
Gianni Versace was born in 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, he 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 Gianni Versace Couture, which debuted in 1989 — 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. 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” — as the moment when the two worlds of fashion and pop culture became one, changing both forever.
Versace's 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 evening dresses, handbags, day dresses and more on 1stDibs.
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: West Hollywood, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- F/W 1996 Gianni Versace Couture Pink Lace Overlay Purple Mini DressBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a contrasting purple and pink lace overlay mini dress designed by Gianni Versace for his Fall/Winter 1996 collection. This piece debuted in the collection's runway presentation as look number 11 on Guinevere van Seenus. The focus of this dress is the exquisite floral lacework inspired by Alençon lace...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1999 Gianni Versace by Donatella Pink Halter Neck Blue Floral DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning pastel and vibrant blue floral Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. This beautiful halter neck dress was part of the Spring/Summer 1999 ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2001 Gianni Versace by Donatella White Backless Dress with TagsBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a white backless Gianni Versace dress, designed by Donatella Versace. A seemingly simple long sleeve v-neck dress from the front that will turn heads with a fully open bac...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Chambray Iridescent Pink Jungle Shirt DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a glamourous sleeveless chambray shirt dress designed by Donatella for the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 2000 collection. The three-quarter sleeve version of this piece debuted as look number 32 on Kiara Kabukuru in the season's runway presentation and appeared on Amber Valletta...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- NWT 1996 Gianni Versace Distressed Leather Medusa Zip Shift DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful grey leather Gianni Versace shift dress, designed by Gianni Versace. From 1996, this fabulous dress is constructed entirely of leather. The sleeveless dress fe...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Early 1990s Gianni Versace Couture Houndstooth Satin Appliqué Skirt SetBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful check pattern Gianni Versace skirt set, designed by Gianni Versace. From the late 1980s / early 1990s, this beautiful set is m...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Sexy Little Purple and Pink Animal Sequin Pattern Cocktail Dress Size MedLocated in Palm Springs, CANo label on this Fashionista owned dress. Never worn. It's a statement little dress for party, dinner or cocktails. Short cap sleeve, It's the back that sizzles. A deep u back. Sligh...Category
2010s American Cocktail Dresses
- Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere Heather Grey Size 40 / 10 Sweatshirt Mini DressBy Nicolas Ghesquière, BalenciagaLocated in San Diego, CAAvant Garde BALENCIAGA by NICOLAS GHESQUIERE mid 2000s heather gray slouchy sweatshirt mini dress ! Simply slips over the head, and stretches to fit. V-neck bodice. Soft cotton blend...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Diane Freis 1980s Novelty Heart Paisley Psychedelic Print Vintage 80s DressBy Diane FreisLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing 1980s DIANE FREIS novelty heart paisley psychedelic print dress ! Black tassel ties at center don’t neck. Simply slips over the head and st...Category
1980s Cocktail Dresses
- Louis Vuitton Silver Metallic Detail Floral Red Metallic Keyholes Dress SBy Louis VuittonLocated in Miami, FLLouis Vuitton stretch dress in black and grey with abstract floral print accented with silver metallic throughout. 2 Round keyholes in front trimmed in red metallic. Form fitting and...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sheath Dresses
- Marc Jacobs for Bergdorf Goodman 1920s Flapper Style Gray 20s Rayon Shirt DressBy Marc JacobsLocated in San Diego, CAMARC JACOBS for BERGDORF GOODMAN early 2000s 1920s flapper style grey shirt dress ! Features a pleated bodice with a drop waist. Butto...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Emanuel Ungaro New Leather Color Block Dress 1980sBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous soft, supple leather dress by Emanuel Ungaro in black and grey. It has a crew neckline, long sleeves with zipper cuffs and shoulder pads. The dress is black with an angul...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses