F/W 1994 Gianni Versace Gold Lame Lurex Pleated Tinsel Mini Tent Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT38 (EU)Bust: 32 in (81.28 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear and shedding of gold tinsel throughout. Fabric tag removed.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388213450662
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.
- F/W 1999 Christian Dior by John Galliano Runway Laser-Cut Suede Turtleneck GownBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting the most incredible laser-cut beige suede Christian Dior Boutique gown, designed by John Galliano. From the Fall/Winter 1999 collection, this full-length gown debuted on the season's runway. This fabulous dress features off-white long sleeves and a turtleneck knit sweater top that transitions to an intricate sheer lace around the bust. The body of the dress is constructed entirely of soft laser-cut suede. The dress's skirt flares below the knee and is finished with a lace hem. This incredibly rare dress...Category
1990s French Evening Gowns
- S/S 2004 Gucci by Tom Ford Ruched Pink Satin Rhinestone Brooch DressBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful metallic pink silk ruched Gucci dress, designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 2004 collection, this form-fitting dress features a v-neckline, stand-up collar, long bell-style sleeves, and an exposed back. Ruched fabric adds additional detail at the sides of the waist, back, and down the sleeves while giving the dress some stretch. This stunning pink satin dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Runway Gold Pink Lurex Metallic Sheer Dress Y2KBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a glittery disco-chic geometric gold lurex shift dress designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Fall/Winter 2000 collection. Debuting as look 30 on Talytha Pugliesi, this piece is...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Psychedelic Print Sheer Strapless DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a psychedelic print quilted strapless Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. This gorgeous dress debuted on the Fall/Winter 2002 runway as look numbe...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1997 Dolce & Gabbana Floral Brown Silk Bustier Strap Pin-Up DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning silk satin floral Dolce & Gabbana hourglass shape dress from their Spring/Summer 1997 collection. This dress debuted in the runway p...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2003 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Maroon Silk Ruffle Rive Gauche GownBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a maroon ruffle gown designed by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. For the Fall/Winter 2003 collection, Ford referenced some of the iconic 1940s inspired design...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Gowns
- Ungaro Beaded Embroidered Evening Dress, Size 36FRBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRUngaro-Emanuel Ungaro Couture - Paris Bolduc: 3194-5-94 Dress composed of three red and beige silk linings fully embroidered with red beads, woven threads and raffia in a foliage and...Category
1980s French Evening Dresses
- 1960s Bernetti Citrine Silk Opera Coat & Dress Ensemble w Extravagant BeadworkLocated in Gresham, ORA fabulous Bernetti 1960s 2 piece evening ensemble: Citrine silk opera coat and column dress with extravagant hand-sewn beadwork and rhinestone embroi...Category
1960s American Evening Gowns
- F/W 2006 Look #55 VERSACE NUDE SEQUIN EMBELLISHED LONG DRESS GOWN 42 - 6By VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXBRAND NEW VERSACE DRESS F/W 2006 Look #55 Finalee gown! This dreamy Versace creation is the perfect blend of romance and fashion-forward style. Size 42 or US 6 100% silk M...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Gowns
- Max Mara Pianoforte Dress and BoleroLocated in London, GBA pretty outfit by Max Mara, Pianoforte Line. In a peach/pink colour and silk / cotton mix the dress has a round neckline , back central zip and cap sleaves. Size UK 10 , measuremen...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Louis Féraud Haute Couture "Universal" Dress Spring/Summer show, 1991By Louis FeraudLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRLouis Féraud - Organized dress embroidered with mother of pearl buttons. No size indicated, it corresponds to a 34FR/36FR. Pretty Woman" collection, "Universal" modem, Haute Couture ...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses
- Animal printed cocktail dress with beaded details Blugirl by BlumarineBy Blugirl, BlumarineLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRAnimal printed cocktail dress with beaded details. Fabric composition: 100% rayon Invisible zip on the left side. SIZE 42 (It) 38 (Fr) but more likely fit SCategory
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses