1990s Gianni Versace Off-White Silver 'Biggie' Medusa Oversized Sunglasses
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light scratches and wear thoughout.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388219733062
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: West Hollywood, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Early 2000s Dolce & Gabbana Red Shield Rimless Rhinestone SunglassesBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a pair of red Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. From the early 2000s, these oversized rimless sunglasses exude a sense of boldness and confidence. The large silver-tone rhinesto...Category
Early 2000s Italian Sunglasses
- 1980s Christian Dior Honey Geometric Oversized CD SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a pair of fabulous oversized Christian Dior sunglasses. From the 1980s, these honey-colored sunglasses feature an oversized octagonal frame and are made complete with a re...Category
1980s European Visors
- S/S 1996 Gianni Versace Lime Green Rhinestone Round Double Medusa SunglassesBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAIt's a 'Big Momma Thing', but you already know that. These bright green Gianni Versace sunglasses feature rhinestone-covered frames, round shape, black lenses, and silver-tone Versac...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- 1990s Gianni Versace Brown Tortoise Shell Medusa Chunky Pointed Frame SunglassesBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CADesigned by Gianni Versace in the 1990s, these angular faux-tortoise shell sunglasses are an ultra-chic addition to any wardrobe. Their sleek angular shape...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- S/S 1993 Gianni Versace 'Miami' Gold Tone Metal Frame Black Round SunglassesBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAThese oversized black round sunglasses, part of the Spring/Summer 1993 collection, were designed by Gianni Versace himself. Adorned with gold-tone 'Miami' arms, they pay homage to Gi...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- 1990s Gianni Versace Brown Tortoise Shell Gold Studded Medusa SunglassesBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAFrom the 1990s, these faux tortoise shell oval sunglasses, designed by Gianni Versace, feature a wrap around style accented with gold-tone studs and a Versace Medusa logo on one side...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- Mint Vintage Midcentury Rectangular Translucent Frame 60'S Sunglasses FranceLocated in Baleares, BalearesMint Vintage Midcentury Rectangular & Translucent Frame Holding A Pair Of Medium Green Lenses Sunglasses This Item May Show Minor Sign Of Wear Due To Storage Made In France Fr...Category
1960s French Sunglasses
- Vintage Ultra Rare Oliver Goldsmith " DUCKS " Made in England Sunglasses, 1985By Oliver GoldsmithLocated in Baleares, BalearesRare and seldom piece of Oliver Goldsmith " DUCKS " made in 1985 sunglasses. A piece rarely seen up for sale showcasing the dauntless spirit of the Goldsmith house. New, never wor...Category
1980s English Sunglasses
- Vintage Helena Rubinstein Candy Red Quilted Sunglasses FranceLocated in Baleares, BalearesVintage Helena Rubinstein candy red quilted frame with light lenses. Made in France. Please notice this item is nearly 50 years old and may show mi...Category
1970s French Sunglasses
- New Vintage Tiffany T 396 Oval Gold Plated Blue Lenses 90'S Sunglasses ItalyBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Tiffany Silver & Gold Plated Frame. Amazing Craftsmanship And Quality. Check The Pics Please. This Item May Show Minor Sign Of We...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- New Vintage Christian Dior 2562 Gold & Tortoise 1980's SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Christian Dior 2562 gold frame with tortoise temples. Light gradient lenses. Made in Germany. Produced and design in 1980's. New, never worn or displayed. This item ...Category
1970s German Sunglasses
- New Vintage Emmanuelle Khanh Pyton Veritable 1970'S France SunglassesBy Emanuelle Kahn, Emmanuelle KahnLocated in Baleares, BalearesClassy And Eye Catching Vintage Emmanuelle Khanh Paris. Strong And Stunning Frame. A Must Have Piece! This Pair Is A Class Statement, A Must Have For A Collector! A Great Opportunity To Achieve A Unique And Yet Timeless Look. Please Notice This Pair Its 40 Years Old...Category
1970s French Sunglasses