1990s Gianni Versace Blue Medusa Medallion Clutch Bag Travel Toiletry with Tag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Light wear from age and storage, never used.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388213892052
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 2000 Gianni Versace Python Blue Convertible Evening Bag & Clutch DonatellaBy Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAThis stunning, convertible Versace clutch in dyed blue python is intricately studded to form a classic Greek key motif along the borders. Front and cent...Category
Early 2000s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford Royal Blue Satin Boat Pochette Mini BagBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a royal blue satin boat pochette mini bag designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2001 collection. This deep blue satin debuted on the season's runway as pants on l...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- S/S 2005 Versace by Donatella Versace Chaos Couture Denim Bag RunwayBy Donatella Versace, VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a Versace Chaos Couture collection bag, designed by Donatella Versace. This oversized tote bag features a biker chic motif with Versac...Category
Early 2000s Italian Tote Bags
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Purple Rhinestone Convertible ClutchBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous tan suede purple rhinestone Gianni Versace convertible clutch, designed by Donatella Versace. Make a bold statement with this amazing Gianni Versace convertible...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- 1970s Gucci Iridescent Blue Caviar Beaded Mini Evening Kiss-Lock ClutchBy GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an incredible iridescent blue Gucci beaded clutch. Step back in time to the glamorous era of the 1970s with this stunning bag adorned in...Category
1970s Italian Clutches
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Gold Abstract Rhinestone ConvertibleBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous tan suede gold rhinestone Gianni Versace convertible clutch, designed by Donatella Versace. Make a bold statement with this amazing Gianni Versace convertible c...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- Yves Saint Laurent Striped Logo Embroidered Clutch BagBy Saint LaurentLocated in Scottsdale, AZGet your hands on the most classic and stunning Yves Saint Laurent padded cotton canvas pouch! This has an elegant yet electric design that will have everyone wishing they had one too. This will be the perfect addition to your travel gear to travel in style or you can use this to spice up formal attire to use as a stylish clutch. Don't miss the great details of this bag as it features patchwork stripes in black and white, red contrast logo embroidery on the front, leather hems, a removable wristlet, zip closure and black grosgrain lining. Pair this handbag with a edgy Prada cocktail dress...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
- Louis Vuitton Blue LV Cup Sac Plein Air Long Keepall Bag 1015lv43By Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYLouis Vuitton Blue LV Cup Sac Plein Air Long Keepall Bag 1015lv43Category
20th Century Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
- Louis Vuitton Blue LV Cup Sac Plein Air Long Keepall Bag 1015lv43By Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: VI1901 Made In: France Measurements: Length: 26.5" Width: 7.5" Height: 14" Handle Drop: 4" OVERALL GOOD CONDITION ( 7/10 or B ) Signs of Wear: Exterio...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Luggage and Travel Bags
- Louis Vuitton 1992 Blue LV Cup Sac Plein Haut 41lk510sBy Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: VI0991 Made In: France Measurements: Length: 17.5" Width: 9" Height: 19" Handle Drop: 3" OVERALL VERY GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION ( 7/10 or B) Signs of Wear...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
- Louis Vuitton Rare Blue Damier Cobalt Keepall Bandouliere 45 Duffle Bag 13lz531sBy Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: DU4134 Made In: France Measurements: Length: 18" Width: 8" Height: 11" Handle Drop: 4" OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION ( 8/10 or AB ) Accessories: Luggage ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
- Louis Vuitton Blue Epi Leather Toledo Keepall 45 Boston Duffle Bag 22LV106By Louis VuittonLocated in Dix hills, NYDate Code/Serial Number: VI1910 Measurements: Length: 18.5" Width: 8" Height: 10" Handle Drop: 4" OVERALL FAIR+ CONDITION ( 6.25/10 or C+ ) Accessories: None Signs of Wear: Coa...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Luggage and Travel Bags