S/S 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford Black and White Zebra Print Cotton Blouse
View Similar Items
S/S 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford Black and White Zebra Print Cotton Blouse
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 23.8 in (60.46 cm)Marked Size: 42 (EU)Bust: 39.6 in (100.59 cm)Waist: 41.6 in (105.67 cm)
- Period:
- Condition:In very good vintage condition with light wear throughout, including repaired area at arm (not noticeable when worn).
- Seller Location:North Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3084222531762
Tom Ford for Gucci
No one understands sex appeal quite like Tom Ford, who joined Gucci as a womens-wear designer in 1990.
At the time, the internationally renowned Italian label was better known for leather goods than luxury fashion. It was also nearly bankrupt. After creative director Dawn Mello left in 1994, following a Bahrain-based investment group becoming Gucci’s majority shareholder, Ford was named creative director. The American designer soon infused the brand with a fresh sensuality and bold style.
Ford's potent vision of sexed-up femininity spanned everything from shirts to shoes to other accessories at Gucci — he reimagined the house's iconic double-ring-and-bar Horsebit hardware, a reference to the brand’s equestrian history, as a seductive low-slung belt, worn by Madonna when accepting an MTV video music award in 1995. For his fall show during that year, in which Kate Moss walked down the runway in an unbuttoned satin shirt, velvet hip-huggers and tousled hair, heralded an exciting, glammed-up era for the once fusty brand. Vogue critic Sarah Mower called it “one of those hitting-in-the-solar-plexus moments.”
As Ford shot to fame, he continued to explore plunging necklines, such as in the black and white looks of the Fall 1996 collection, and sumptuous fabrics like leather and tweed, with the Fall 2000 ready-to-wear collection ranging from sultry silk evening dresses to plush belted coats.
Ford also cranked up the seduction in the provocative ads for Gucci, particularly with regard to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, which the fashion house acquired in 1999 (Ford was also named creative director for YSL and designed the brand’s ready-to-wear collection). Gucci's Fall/Winter 1997 campaign featured Carolyn Murphy grasping Angela Lindvall in what looked like a video still; in another shot, a face pressed against a foot in a lipstick-red heel. Each promoted a vision of modern fashion where women were sexually confident, the materials were luxurious and the styles were fearless.
In 2004, Ford and Gucci president Domenico De Sole left the company after failing to agree on the renewal of their contracts. In 2006, with De Sole as chairman, Ford launched his wildly successful eponymous menswear label. Today Ford is also an author, film director and chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Find vintage Tom Ford Gucci day dresses, jackets and handbags on 1stDibs.
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- A/W 1992 Vivienne Westwood 'Always on Camera' Rolls Royce Print CorsetBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in North Hollywood, CAA/W 1992 Vivienne Westwood 'Always on Camera' collection Rolls Royce print super rare denim corset. Fitted sleeveless corset with boning and blue and white Rolls Royce print on front...Category
1990s Shirts
- A/W 1991 Vivienne Westwood 'Dressing Up' Pink and Green Striped CorsetBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in North Hollywood, CAA/W 1991 Vivienne Westwood 'Dressing Up' Collection pink and green striped corset. Sleeveless 18th-Century inspired pink corset with green stripe pattern throughout. Stretch side pan...Category
1990s Shirts
- S/S 1998 Atelier Versace Haute Couture Purple Strapless Oroton Chainmail TopBy Atelier VersaceLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 1998 Atelier Versace (Haute Couture) purple strapless Oroton chainmail top. Fully chainmail exterior with purple silk-satin interior lining. Atelier Versace signature 'Oroton' ch...Category
1990s Shirts
- A/W 1988 Paco Rabanne Haute Couture Gold Chainmail Bustier GownBy Paco RabanneLocated in North Hollywood, CAA/W 1988 Paco Rabanne Haute Couture gown with floral chainmail bust and black and gold feather patterned velvet sleeves. Features long gold cube drop chain with black tassel at back....Category
1980s Bustiers
- S/S 1991 Issey Miyake Blue 3D Cage TopBy Issey MiyakeLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 1991 Issey Miyake deep blue 3D cage top with laser-cut accents throughout. Short sleeve top with bateau neckline. An incredible multi-dimensional piece of wearable art, with incr...Category
1990s Shirts
- S/S 1994 Vivienne Westwood Denim Skirt Set with Bleached Floral PatternBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 1994 Vivienne Westwood 'Cafe Society' Collection denim skirt set with bleached floral pattern throughout. Button-up collared long sleeve cotton denim jacket pairs with matching d...Category
1990s Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford FW-2003 Viscose & Silk Top with Ruffle DetailingBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Brussels, BEDuring his tenure at the historical House of Yves Saint Laurent, American designer Tom Ford made a point of putting sexiness back into the French brand. This clingy silk and viscose ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Wolfgang Joop for WUNDERKIND SS-2008 Cotton and Silk Printed TopLocated in Brussels, BEWUNDERKIND by Wolfgang Joop The idea of fusing cultures within a single piece of clothing was always key within Wolfgang Joop’s work. This intricately crafted top, which brings Woodstock and open-air festivals to mind, is, in fact, the ultimate boho must-have, ideally paired with a faded pair of wide-leg jeans or cute cut...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Christian Lacroix SS-2003 Nylon Mix Primitiv Print TopBy Christian Lacroix Paris, Christian LacroixLocated in Brussels, BESportswear -and colored bodywear- were key trends during the 1990s, when lycra took over fashion and changed the way designers made their collections. Despite his love of volume and ...Category
1990s French Blouses and Tops
- Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford FW-2003 Cotton Jersey Draped Sleeveless TopBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Brussels, BEA highlight from the Fall/Winter 2003 YSL collection, this sensually draped top emphasizes every curve, while the semi-sheer finish of its jersey does not leave much room to the imag...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Circa 2000 Silk Cross Draping TopBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Brussels, BEAnother illustration of Gaultier’s technical skills when it comes to ‘flou’ territory, the opposite of all things tailored and constructed, this sensually cross draped silk top is lu...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Wolfgang Joop for WUNDERKIND SS-2008 Cotton and Silk Backless Flower Print TopLocated in Brussels, BEWUNDERKIND by Wolfgang Joop Simply looking at this beautifully printed top from Wunderkind bring back memories of peaceful summer holidays, when weeks start at the beach, and end wit...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.