Gianni Versace New Vintage Cashmere Colorblock American Flag Sweater
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 46 (EU)Bust: 42 in (106.68 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 24 in (60.96 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5119617352
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Water Mill, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- John Galliano Lace Cardigan and 2 Camisoles SetBy John GallianoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous cardigan and camisole set in black knit lace plus an additional matching red camisole all from John Galliano. The set consists of 2 flower patt...Category
1990s French Cardigans
- Ann Demeulemeester New Oversize Sweater and Neck TubeBy Ann DemeulemeesterLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous taupe wool knit over sized sweater dress and separate turtleneck from Belgium designer Ann Demeulemeester. The dress follows the line of the body then flares to the hem. ...Category
Early 2000s Belgian Day Dresses
- Moschino Couture Cash Cow Appliqued Cashmere SweaterBy Moschino Couture, MoschinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous whimsical off white and black cashmere sweater from Moschino Couture. It has long sleeves, a crew neckline and CASH COW emblazoned in gold capital ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Pullovers
- John Galliano for Christian Dior Boutique Applique Sweater 1990sBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful grey silk and mohair sweater from Christian Dior. It has long sleeves and a turtleneck. The entire sweater is covered in strips of matching gray draping silk strip appl...Category
Early 2000s French Pullovers
- Laura Biagiotti New Cashmere Sweater 1990sBy Laura BiagiottiLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous grey fine cashmere sweater by Laura Biagiotti. It is semi fitted with long sleeves and a stand up collar comprised of coils of the sweater yarn. It closes at the back c...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Alan Scott of Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Sweater with FringeLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous off white cashmere sweater by Alan Scott. It has a turtle neck and is covered in horizontal rows of 3-4" long yarn fringe, 1.50" aro...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Men's Charcoal-Gray 2-Ply Cashmere V-Neck Pullover From ScotlandLocated in New York, NYClan Douglas men's charcoal-gray 2-ply cashmere v-neck pullover, made in Scotland, measures 28 inches in total length. The front length measures 20 inches. Underarm circumference...Category
Early 2000s Scottish Pullovers
- Black, Charcoal & Gray Color-Block Abstract High-Collar 2-Ply Cashmere TunicLocated in New York, NYThis Wonderfully soft 2-ply Cashmere Black, charcoal-gray and gray color-block abstract is detailed with a high-collar measuring 3 inches. This 2-ply cashmere tunic...Category
1990s Chinese Pullovers
- Kenzo Crew-Neck Cotton-Blend "Clouds" Sweat PulloverBy KenzoLocated in New York, NYIconic Kenzo whimsical crew-neck cotton-blend "Clouds" sweat pullover measures 16" across the shoulders. The length measures 23", neck-to-shoulder is 5", underarm circumferen...Category
1990s Japanese Pullovers
- Ungaro Parallele Deadstock Vintage Polka Dot Bow Cashmere Silk Sweater TopBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in Portland, ORWe love vintage Ungaro and we were so happy to find this beautiful cashmere blend sweater! This vintage deadstock Ungaro Parallele Paris v neck top is in a soft white with black polk...Category
1980s European Shirts
- 1970s Silver + Black Metallic Striped Sleeveless Vintage Vest Tunic / Mini DressLocated in San Diego, CAChic 70s silver and black metallic striped sleeveless tunic vest OR mini dress! Silver buttons down the front make this piece perfect for layering (or on i...Category
1970s Sweater Vests
- Men's Matsuda grey striped knitted cotton shirt sweater, ss 1995By Mitsuhiro MatsudaLocated in London, GB▪ Men's Matsuda grey striped shirt sweater ▪ 100% Cotton ▪ Deconstructed design ▪ Knitted sweater at top panel ▪ Button up shirt at bottom panel ▪ Size Large ▪ Spring-Summer 1995Category
1990s Japanese Sweaters