Gianni Versace Couture Blue Silk Documented Runway Dress, 1994
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Italian 38 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:
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.
Versace
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.
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 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. 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 Versace evening dresses, handbags, day dresses, accessories and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Portland, OR
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1960s Blue Silk Chiffon Pleated Dress With Banded Hemline and BowLocated in Portland, ORWe love unique vintage 1960's dresses and this is such a fabulous blue silk chiffon evening or day dress with a banded hemline in a loosely draped pleated style. The dress has a bow ...Category
1960s Unknown Evening Dresses
- 1970s Bob Mackie Ray Aghayan Aqua Blue Dot Organza Maxi Dress w Puff SleevesBy Bob MackieLocated in Portland, ORThis beautiful, ethereal vintage Bob Mackie aqua blue dot organza dress has both a cream organza lining and a cream satin lining. The dress was featured on the cover of the book "Dressing for Glamour" by Gerry Bremerhas. This lovely dress comes with its original blue satin belt and closes with a back zipper that is covered with hidden snaps up the back. This dress was originally purchased at Bonwit Teller in the 1970's and it is in excellent condition! The beautiful gathered puff statement sleeves can be worn on or off shoulder and it is simply stunning in person! The Bob Mackie Ray Aghayan...Category
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Oscar de la Renta Blue Turquoise Sleeveless Silk Dress W Bubble Hem Resort 2009By Oscar De La RentaLocated in Portland, ORThis is a timeless dress designed by Oscar de la Renta himself for his 2009 Resort collection. Oscar de la Renta always designed the most flattering dresses and we love his pieces! He was a designer we will always miss! The dress is in a lovely turquoise blue silk and is a sleeveless shirtwaist style with a surprise bubble hem! The dress buttons half way up the front and appears to have been only worn once if ever! This is a wonderful wedding guest dress...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Strapless Turquoise Blue Green Leather 1980s Dress in Size 4/6By Yucatan BayLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage Yucatan Bay 1980's Strapless Turquoise Leather Dress from the 1980's. This strapless leather dress has interesting top-stitching an...Category
1980s South Korean Day Dresses
- Vintage 1960s Blue Linen Beaded Halter Dress W White Beads & RhinestonesLocated in Portland, ORThis is an incredible vintage Caribbean blue linen dress with a stunning beaded halter style collar with rhinestones. This hourglass wiggle dress ha...Category
Mid-20th Century American Day Dresses
- 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Floral Silk Runway Dress w Black Velvet TrimBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis iconic Yves Saint Laurent dress is in a fine floral silk in shades of dove grey and pink on a black background with black velvet trim at the cuffs, yoke and over the shoulders. ...Category
1980s European Day Dresses
- 1960s Teal Blue Floral Three Quarter Sleeve DressLocated in London, GBSuperb example of an early 1960s day dress but could just as easily be worn in more formal settings or as a cocktail dress. Cut in a beautifully iridescent teal blue silk feel fabric...Category
1960s British Cocktail Dresses
- Karl Lagerfeld 1980s Size 44 / US 10 Navy Blue Silk Chiffon Vintage 80s DressBy Karl LagerfeldLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful late 80s KARL LAGERFELD navy + ivory silk chiffon sleeveless dress. Features a navy body with semi sheer ivory above the bust. Hidden zipper up the back with hook-and-eye c...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Blue Black Floral Print Vintage 80s Silk Dress Size 42By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing 1980s YVES SAINT LAURENT YSL Rive Gauche blue and black floral / rose print short sleeve silk dress ! Pockets at each side of the waist. Features a vibrant blue flowers and r...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Holly’s Harp Navy Blue Colorful Silk Chiffon Flapper Style Vintage DressBy Holly HarpLocated in San Diego, CAFabulous early 80s HOLLY’S HARP silk chiffon flapper style dress ! Navy blue, with shades of red, purple, green and yellow throughout. Simply slips over the head. Attached caplet dra...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1990 Givenchy Haute Couture Sapphire Blue Draped Silk Velvet DressBy GivenchyLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGivenchy, the name itself evokes glamour, refined elegance, simplicity and style. Givenchy's trademark of sculpted lines and luxurious fabrics make his work easily recognizable. This gorgeous cocktail, dating back to his 1990 Fall-Winter runway collection, is a beautiful example of his brilliance. The fabric itself is a masterpiece; liquid silk velvet in the prettiest sapphire blue color. I adore the seductive criss-cross plunge bodice with lean, long zipper-wrist sleeves. The sparkling rhinestone-encrusted side buttons create the perfect amount of drama to this timeless piece. An hourglass nipped-waist skirt with side draping finishes this garment off with a perfect femme fatale vibe. It is an exquisite example of wearable luxurious from one of the most important houses of the modern era. Measurements Bust: 36-37 inches Waist: 26 inches Hips: up to 39 inches Sleeve Length: 24 inches Total Length: 46 inches This vintage Givenchy Haute-Couture 72436 numbered dress...Category
1990s Cocktail Dresses
- John Galliano Vintage Teal Blue Silk Halter GownBy John GallianoLocated in Beverly Hills, CABeautiful Late 1990s John Galliano empire sweetheart bust bias cut gown with thin spaghetti strap with slit. Big bow ties in the front. Fit US size 4 or 6 Bu...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses