F/W 2001 Gianni Versace by Donatella Black Leather Waist V-Neck Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 39.5 in (100.33 cm)Marked Size: IT42 / US8 (EU)Bust: 32 in (81.28 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)Hip: 33 in (83.82 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 36.5 in (92.71 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear from age and use throughout.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388214934582
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 2003 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Oroton Chainmail Lace Mini DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting: an incredible acid green and purple Oroton Gianni Versace Couture mini dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, this dress debuted as look 55 modeled by Nicola Breytenbach. This ultra-sexy dress was also worn by Eve to the 2003 MTV Movie Awards as well as by Paris Hilton...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 1977 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture 'Les Chinoises' Documented Dress SetBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a well-documented piece of fashion history expertly crafted by a master couturier in his prime. Yves Saint Laurent designed this dress for his infamous and brand-defining 'Les Chinoises,' or 'Opium Couture,' collection. A version of this Cheongsam-inspired belted dress set debuted on the Fall/Winter 1977 Haute Couture runway in July 1977 and appears in Saint Laurent's original archival sketches, held by the YSL Museum in Marrakesh. This collection corresponded with the release of YSL's infamous Opium fragrance and featured the designer's dreamy interpretation of historical Chinese style elements. Marino Schiano, one of YSL's muses, wore a similar set to the "Yves Saint Laurent Presents Opium Perfume...Category
1970s French Evening Dresses
- F/W 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford Black Epaulet Military Pocket DressBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a military inspired collared Gucci dress, designed by Tom Ford. This dress from the Fall/Winter 1996 collection is made of a stretchy hefty viscose which allows the fabric...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1994 Gianni Versace Couture Pinstripe Wool Asymmetric Medusa Punk DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an asymmetric pinstripe dress designed by Gianni Versace for his punk-inspired Spring/Summer 1994 collection. Silver Medusa hardware-shaped faux buttons accent the bust an...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1993 Dolce & Gabbana Runway Logo Snap Black Bodycon Pin-Up DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black maxi dress designed by Dolce & Gabbana. From Spring/Summer 1993 collection this dress debuted on the season's runway as look 15 modeled by Linda Evangelista. Snap ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- NWT F/W 1998 Gianni Versace by Donatella Black Silk Studded Rhinestone DressBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning backless Gianni Versace studded dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Fall/Winter 1998 collection, this beautiful mid...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Greek Style Dresses
- Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek classi...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in New York, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Peplos
- 1970s Chanel Creations Black Silk Micro Pleated Shirt DressBy ChanelLocated in Toronto, OntarioVery sweet 1970s Chanel Creations short sleeve shirtdress. Micro pleated black silk with removable white cotton Peter Pan neckline and cuffs. Black and bronze tone lions head small b...Category
1970s French Day Dresses
- Worlds End by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren grey smock dress, ss 1983By Vivienne Westwood, Worlds EndLocated in London, GB▪ A rare Worlds End grey cotton smock dress ▪ Designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren ▪ Tain panel at the front skirt which can be worn as a shawl ▪ Drawstring neckline ...Category
1980s English Day Dresses
- Azzedine Alaia black leather eyelet-embellished dress, ss 1981By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GB▪ Important and early Azzedine Alaia black leather dress ▪ Museum grade ▪ Draped panel embellished with metal eyelets ▪ Choker neck ▪ One strap connecting the shoulder to the waist ...Category
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns