Gianni Versace Vintage Little Black Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 33.08 in (84 cm)Marked Size: 10 (US)Bust: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:velvet fabric
- Condition:Excellent, item used few times. There are no visible signs of wear, and it is almost as good as new.
- Seller Location:Brindisi, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1354316955562
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: Brindisi, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Gianni Versace Couture Black Silver Silk Wool Lamè Evening Skirt Suit 1980sBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Brindisi, BtGianni Versace Couture evening 80s vintage women's skirt suit. Jacket and skirt in wool and silk . Color black laminated, inside silver lining. Jacket with clip closure, sheath skirt...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Red Valentino Black Jersey Evening Balloon Sheath Dress 2000s NWTBy REDValentino, ValentinoLocated in Brindisi, BtRed Valentino 2000s vintage black dress. Elegant short balloon model, with elastic and waistband. Side zip closure. Composition 100% jersey. Made in Ita...Category
Early 2000s Italian Ball Gowns
- Moschino Black Lame Floral Sleeveless Sheat Evening Dress 1990sBy Moschino, Moschino JeansLocated in Brindisi, BtMoschino Jeans 90s vintage woman dress. Model sheath dress sleeveless with skirt balloon. Laminated fabric in gold and black with floral designs...Category
1990s Italian Sheath Dresses
- Adriana Kastern Black Green Wool Bow Evening Cocktail Dress 1980sLocated in Brindisi, BtAdriana Kastern vintage 80s evening dress. 100% wool, black with a green waist bow, knee length, crew neck and 3/4 sleeves. Made in Italy. E...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Luisa Spagnoli Black Lace Evening Floral Dress 2000sBy Luisa SpagnoliLocated in Brindisi, BtLuisa Spagnoli elegant dress 2000s. Lace evening dress with floral pattern, black color with white cuffs and collar. Closure with pearl jewel buttons. Cotton fabric, black slip insid...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns
- Blumarine Blue Lace Evening Sheath Dress 2000sBy BlumarineLocated in Brindisi, BtBlumarine by blugirl elegant dress 2000s. Blue flared sheath dress, floral lace pattern. Zipper closure on the back. Fabric 76% viscose, 24% polyimide. Made in italy. Size: 42 It 8 ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Roland Klein black strapless dress with black and white striped trainBy Roland KleinLocated in Austin, TX1980s Roland Klein black strapless dress with black and white train. Acetate fabric. 34" bust, 26" waist, 40" hips, 48" front length - 54 1/2" ba...Category
1980s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Long asymmetrical evening dress with sequin embroideries and tulle Gai MattioloBy Gai MattioloLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRLong asymmetrical evening dress with sequin embroideries and tulle ajouré. NEW with tag. Zip on the left side. Shorter in the front than in the back. Fabric composition: 56% rayon, 4...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses
- UNWORN Gucci by Tom Ford FW 2004 Black Silk & Tassle Evening Gown Dress 40By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Switzerland, CHRARE COLLECTOR'S ITEM STUNNING PIECE BY TOM FORD FOR HIS FINAL COLLECTION IN FALL 2004 FOR GUCCI Seen on the runway show, in the AD campaign and in many editorials One of the key...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns
- Vintage Tom Ford for Gucci F/W 1996 Black Jersey Dress Gown w Pony Hair Belt 42By Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXVintage Runway Tom Ford for Gucci Black Jersey Dress Gown F/W 1996 Collection Designer size - 42 Black Jersey, Fully Lined, Slip-on Style. Black Pony Hair Belt...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Vintage fluid black dress in sheer jerseyLocated in Milano, ITFluid black dress in sheer jersey with lurex copper profiles and belt. Deep V neckline. Wide shoulder straps. Size IT:40 Size USA: 6 Waist: 66 cm Length: 152 cm Bust: 80 cmCategory
1970s American Evening Dresses
- Iconic Tom Ford for Gucci SS 2003 Japanese Cherry Blossoms Mini Stretch Dress SBy Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXIconic Tom Ford for Gucci Japanese Cherry Blossoms Mini Stretch Dress S/S 2003 Runway Collection Designer size - S Measurements: Length - 37", Bust - ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses