1990s Gianni Versace Couture Grey Pinstripe Stretch Medusa Blouse
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT40 / US6 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear from age and use throughout. Fabric tag removed.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388216537592
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.
- S/S 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford Runway G Logo Buckle Stretch Knit TopBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting one of Tom Ford's most iconic designs while at Gucci. This stunning long sleeve top can be worn two ways, with an open back or with a planning neckline (a trend worn by Be...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Black Sheer Embroidered Babydoll Tank TopBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a flirty embroidered black babydoll tank top designed by Donatella for the Gianni Versace Fall/Winter 2002 collection. This piece debuted as look number 24 on Karolina Kur...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses
- F/W 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Plunging Gold Lurex Ruffle Disco TopBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a gold lurex Gucci ruffle top, designed by Tom Ford. From the Fall/Winter 2000 collection, this top appeared in black as part of look 9 on Taly...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses
- S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford Ad Campaign Corset Black Plunging Cotton BlouseBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an incredible Gucci collared corset top, designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2001 collection. Versions of this fabulous top debute...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses
- S/S 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Sheer Eyelet French Cuff Button Up TopBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black sheer eyelet Gianni Versace Couture top, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 2002 collection, this fabulous fitted button-down top features eyelet cutouts, a collar, and french cuffs with Gianni Versace cufflinks. Effortlessly chic and sexy, this Donatella-designed Y2K top...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses
- S/S 2002 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Safari Cheetah Print Sheer Silk TopBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning cheetah print Yves Saint Laurent top, designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 2002 collection, this top debuted as part of look 34 modeled by Rie Rasmussen. Perfectly versatile, this flowy top...Category
Early 2000s French Blouses
- Alberta Ferretti 1990s Silk Chiffon Size 4 Printed Vintage 90s Cap Sleeve BlouseBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful vintage late 90s ALBERTA FERRETTI printed silk chiffon cap sleeve blouse / top ! Features grey, pink, purple, ivory and beige throughout. Hidden zipper up the back with hoo...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK Wild & Lethal Trash c.1990's Asymmetric Dual Tone TopBy Walter Van BeirendonckLocated in Thiensville, WIWALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK Wild & Lethal Trash c.1990's Asymmetric Dual Tone Top Circa: 1990’s Label(s): Wild and Lethal Trash Designer: Walter Van Beirendonck Style: Asymmetric top; h...Category
1990s Italian T-Shirts
- Rozae Nichols Charcoal Gray Ombre Sequins A - Line Silk Trapeze Top / BlouseBy Rozae NicholsLocated in San Diego, CAChic Rozae Nichols charcoal gray ombre trapeze top! 100% silk, with hundreds of sequins encrusted throughout the entire blouse. Adjustable straps, so you...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Blouses and Tops
- Escada by Margaretha Ley Vintage Striped Silk Button Up BlouseBy Escada, Margaretha LeyLocated in Sparks, NVBrown and blue striped silk button up blouse by Margaretha Ley for Escada. Details: Unlined Shoulder Pads Can Easily Be Removed If Desired Front Button and Wrist Button Closu...Category
Late 20th Century German Blouses
- 1990s Ralph Lauren Black Label Size 14 Paisley Velvet Off the Shoulder BlouseBy Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Black LabelLocated in San Diego, CAChic mid 90s vintage RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION black label paisley lightweight velvet Size 14 blouse top ! Features warm tones of tau...Category
1990s Hong Kong Bishop Sleeve Blouses
- Paper Thin Sheer Metallic Gold Silk Chiffon Vintage Button Up Blouse Top, 1970sBy Icinoo, The Silk FarmLocated in Sparks, NVDelicate paper thin silk chiffon button up blouse top with ruffled ascot collar detail. Completely sheer. By The Silk Farm. The marked size is a vintage 8, but the blouse fits like a...Category
1970s American Blouses