Gianni Versace F/W 1996 Vintage Floral Lace and Leather Blue Mini Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT 38 (EU)
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Naples, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1624121119572
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: Naples, FL
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Gianni Versace F/W 1999 Runway Cutout Silk Open Back Evening Dress GownLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace F/W 1999 Runway Cutout Turquoise Silk Open Back Evening Dress Gown IT 38 As seen on the F/W 1999 Runway.Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Azzedine Alaïa c.2004 Semi-Sheer Cutout Ruched Slits Gown Maxi Evening DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Naples, FLAzzedine Alaïa Semi-Sheer Cutout Ruched High Slits Gown Maxi Evening Dress FR 38 As seen on Naomi Campbell in the black color. Azzedine Alaia semi-sheer ruc...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana 1990's Vintage Corset Lace Up Asymmetric Silk Mini DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Naples, FLDolce & Gabbana 1990's Vintage Corset Lace Up Asymmetric Silk Mini Dress IT 40 Condition: good vintage condition, no holes or tears, some minor discolora...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil Cutout Semi-Sheer Bodycon Mesh Color Block Maxi DressBy Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in Naples, FLJean Paul Gaultier Soleil Cutout Semi-Sheer Bodycon Mesh Color Block Maxi Dress Size SCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace S/S 1995 Runway Medusa Embellished Backless Slip Evening DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace S/S 1995 Runway Vintage Medusa Embellished Backless Slip Evening Dress IT 40 Look 33 from the Spring 1995 Collection. Featured in the Versace Spring 1995...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Roberto Cavalli S/S 2001 Runway Face Eye Print Bias Cut Silk Slip Evening DressBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Naples, FLRoberto Cavalli S/S 2001 Runway Face Eye Print Bias Cut Silk Slip Evening Dress Size MCategory
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage 1960's Aqua Beaded Lace Dress UK 10-12 US 6-8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis mesmerising 1960's aqua coloured dress, embellished with a pale blue overlay of floral lace, which is in turn decorated with pearlescent glass beads, iridescent sequins and pearls, is the perfect statement piece for your cocktail wardrobe. The high collared neckline is fully embellished with pearlescent glass beads and scattered pearlescent plastic beads, which set off the neckline and triangular collar feature along the top of the bodice.The simple shoulder line, sets off the sleeveless cut. The fitted bodice boasts tailored darts along the bust-line and a cinched in waistline. The elegant long-line of the skirt, is finished with a side slit along the right hand side side seam. The lace base of the dress is fully embellished with and accented by pearlescent glass beads and iridescent sequins, completing this dress in an iconic silhouette. This dress is fully like in aqua colour nylon. Label: None Measurements Of The Dress Armpit to Armpit: up to 36 inches Shoulder to Shoulder: 15 inches Shoulder to Hem: 55 inches Waist: up to 30 inches Hips: up to 36 inches Fastenings: 19 inch metal zip and two hook and eyes Size: UK 10-12 US 6-8 Condition: The dress is in near perfect vintage condition. Light bead loss along the high collar edges of the dress. Light yellowing along the armpits of the dress. Light and gentle beadwork loss throughout the length of the dress . Gentle beadwork loss along the hemline. These minor details are not apparent when the dress is being worn and only noticeable upon closer inspection. Please refer to the photographs as they form part of the condition report. Fastenings: This dress fastens to the back with a 20.5 inch metal zip and a hook and eye Washing instructions: This garment should be dry cleaned Fabric: Nylon lining, glass beads, pearlescent sequins, plastic pearlised beads, lace Vintage garments have been previously worn and lovingly cared for, they may however have a blemish or two. Here at Willow Hilson...Category
1960s Cocktail Dresses
- MARCHESA NOTTE blue SHEER FLORAL EVENING Dress 0 XSBy Marchesa NotteLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Marchesa Notte floral semi sheer dress in electric blue polyester (100%). Features long sleeves and opens with a concealed zipper and a hook at the back. Lined in nude...Category
2010s Evening Gowns
- BALMAIN blue wool crystal rhinestone embellished strap asymmetric dress FR36 SBy BalmainLocated in Hong Kong, NTBALMAIN blue wool crystal rhinestone embellished strap asymmetric dress FR36 S Reference: TGAS/B01510 Brand: Balmain Designer: Olivier Rousteing Material: Wool Color: Blue Patt...Category
2010s French Cocktail Dresses
- MARNI cobalt blue viscose raw frayed edge step hem folded back dress IT38 XSBy MarniLocated in Hong Kong, NTMARNI cobalt blue viscose raw frayed edge step hem folded back dress IT38 XS Reference: CELG/A00179 Brand: Marni Material: Viscose Color: Blue Patter...Category
2010s Cocktail Dresses
- DOLCE GABBANA dusty blue silk crepe crystal embellished dress IT36 XSBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Hong Kong, NTDOLCE GABBANA dusty blue silk crepe crystal embellished dress IT36 XS Reference: TGAS/B02035 Brand: Dolce Gabbana Material: Silk Color: Blue Pattern: Solid Closure: Zip Extra ...Category
2010s Cocktail Dresses
- new VERSACE 2021 Tresor De La Mer blue print starfish belt dress IT42 MBy VersaceLocated in Hong Kong, NTnew VERSACE 2021 Tresor De La Mer blue print starfish belt dress IT42 M Reference: TGAS/C00898 Brand: Versace Designer: Donatella Versace Collection: Spring Summer 2021 Material:...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses