Gianni Versace Silk Skirt and Top Set with Hardware
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5116410681
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. 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,” Versace once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life. Today, vintage Gianni Versace clothing, handbags and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant.
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 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.
- Lillie Rubin New 1950s Silk Damask Dress and Mink Collar Coat SetBy Lillie RubinLocated in Water Mill, NYA rare, new 1950s dress and coat set from Lillie Rubin in a black silk damask flower pattern. The dress is semi fitted with a matching belt, a bateau ne...Category
1950s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
- Edna Vilm Top with Waterfall Back and Skirt 1940sLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful elaborately detailed top and skirt from notable 1940s American designer Edna Vilm. It consists of a hip length long sleeve top with with zipper cuffs, a V neck, padded s...Category
1940s American Skirt Suits
- Alessandro Dell'Acqua New Silk Top and Skirt with Bead Trim 1990sBy Alessandro Dell'AcquaLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous 2 piece fine silk knit lace top and skirt set by Alessandro Dell'Acqua. It consists of a hip length sleeveless top with sheer side panels adorned with colorful intricate ...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Fabrice Couture Silk Beaded Camisole and Skirt Set 1990sBy Fabrice, Fabrice New York CoutureLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous 2 piece set skirt and camisole set from Coty award winner designer Fabrice's Couture collection in black semi sheer silk covered in glass beads and with sequin accents. Th...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Courreges 1970s Hyperbole Blue Velvet Maxi Skirt and TopBy Courreges Hyperbole, André CourrègesLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous 2 piece blue velvet skirt and top set from Courreges. The maxi skirt is gathered onto a front and back yoke and flares subtly to the hem....Category
1970s French Day Dresses
- Moschino Halter Tuxedo JumpsuitBy Moschino, Moschino Cheap and ChicLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black halter jumpsuit from Moschino. It is double breasted with 6 buttons matching the satin peak lapels and hip pocket flaps. Semi f...Category
Early 2000s Italian Jumpsuits
- 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
- 2006 Valentino Runway Beaded Black Silk Avant Garde Beaded Jacket & SkirtBy ValentinoLocated in Portland, ORThis is an absolutely sensational Valentino Garavani Spring 2006 raw silk skirt evening suit with a gorgeous blazer that has a beaded bow with tassels i...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- New Vintage Givenchy Couture Black Velvet Sequins & Lace Evening Suit w TagsBy GivenchyLocated in Portland, ORThis black velvet Givenchy Couture skirt suit is embellished with black sequins and lace. We love the bold gold tone starburst and black enamel buttons on the jacket. The black velv...Category
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Pauline Trigère Ensemble with Fox TrimBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Alford, MAStunning Pauline Trigère 1970s ensemble in black wool crepe, the simple dress underneath an unusual reverse cape/shawl terminating in deep black fox trim at t...Category
1970s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
- 1990s Vintage Donna Karan 2pc Cashmere Silk Evening Dress W Sequins & CardiganBy Donna KaranLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage Donna Karan 3 piece evening ensemble includes a 2 piece vintage dress with an open cardigan. The skirt and halter top are perfect for any special occasion or cocktail p...Category
1990s Hong Kong Cocktail Dresses
- Diane Freis Limited Edition Black Silk Jersey Dress & Pants W Velvet DetailBy Diane FreisLocated in Portland, ORWe absolutely love Diane Freis vintage pieces and this one is so unique! This vintage Diane Freis 2 piece evening ensemble is in a black silk jersey with velvet burnout accents in sh...Category
1980s Hong Kong Evening Dresses and Gowns