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 his first 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 Atelier Versace dresses, evening gowns and more on 1stDibs.
Vintage Versace Gold Tone Dangling Pieces Hoop Earring Circa 2000s
By Atelier Versace
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Versace Gold Tone Dangling Pieces Hoop Earring Circa 2000s. These fabulous earrings feature a small hoop with a long, dangling V. A vine w...
Mixed Metal
F/W 2000 Atelier Versace Haute Couture Amethyst Crystal Rhinestone Drop Necklace
By Atelier Versace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting a gorgeous crystal and amethyst Atelier Versace necklace designed by Donatella Versace. From the Fall/Winter 2000 collection, a similar ne...
Amethyst, Crystal
Gianni Versace Vintage 2000s Y2K Gold Logo Medusa Head Dangle Pierced Earrings
By Gianni Versace
Located in San Diego, CA
Iconic never worn GIANNI VERSACE gold Medusa head embossed dangle pierced back earrings. Each earring features 6 discs. Pierced back. Can easily be dressed up or down. In great unwor...
$3,500
W 0.48 in D 0.2 in L 1.34 in
Georgian Snake Poison Locket Pendant Mourning Garnet Antique Gold 1800 Rare
Located in New York, NY
A very rare antique Georgian to Victorian Snake Pendant Locket with a small hinged Locket opening in which to place a treasured memento, a mourning item, or possibly poison! The extraordinary Snake Pendant is 14 Karat Gold. The head and eyes of the snake are set with a pear shaped and two round faceted red Garnets. The locket portion is covered with a crystal or rock crystal cover on the front. The reverse of the locket portion opens with a lovely detailed hinge with a glass cover. The pendant is 34mm long including the bales. Without the bales the snake is 28mm long and 12mm wide. The interior of the locket portion is 4mm in diameter and is 4.5mm deep. The snake is 14 Karat Gold. The pendant weighs 1.6 grams. The listing is only for the snake pendant. The chain is only shown for display. The bales may be a later addition. A pendant with a poison compartment is extremely rare and having one in the form of a snake is highly unusual. The combination of both a snake and an pendant is rarely ever seen. The following is a description of poison rings: A poison ring or pillbox ring...
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage gold tone amber dangle glass designer dangle pierced earrings
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • unsigned • gold tone with glass • vintage designer earrings MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 47 ❤️❤️ V...
Vintage gold tone glass drop dangle designer earrings
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • unsigned • gold tone with glass • vintage designer earrings MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 45 ❤️❤️ VI...
Chanel Vintage Massive Gold Toned Iconic Hoop Dangling Earrings
By Chanel
Located in Nice, FR
CHANEL vintage massive and iconic gold toned hoop dangling earrings (clip-on) featuring a CC logo on top. Embossed CHANEL. Indicative measurements : height approx. 8.6 cm (3.39 inc...
Gilt Metal
$1,295
H 2 in W 1.13 in
Art Nouveau Limoges Enamel Locket Pendant Maiden Hand Painted Necklace Antique
By Limoges 2
Located in New York, NY
This is a rare Art Deco - Art Nouveau Limoges Enamel Locket Pendant. The magnificent portrait of a woman is hand painted with vivid iridescent colors. This portrait of a woman has...
Enamel, Gold-filled
Vintage White Enamel & Gold Tone Tiered Dangle Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Description: These elegant vintage 1950s MId Century dangle earrings feature a sophisticated tiered geometric design that catches the eye. The crisp, bright white enamel segments con...
$6,500
H 2 in L 19.5 in
Victorian Moonstone Ruby Necklace Antique 14 Karat Gold Museum Quality Necklace
Located in New York, NY
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT MUSEUM QUALITY ANTIQUE VICTORIAN MOONSTONE AND RUBY NECKLACE IN 14 KARAT ROSE GOLD. The necklace is an absolute masterpiece of antique Victorian jewelry artist...
Moonstone, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
$1,396
H 2.76 in W 2.01 in
GIANNI VERSACE Vintage Oversized Gold-Tone Medusa Faux Pearl Dangle Earrings
By Gianni Versace
Located in Nice, FR
GIANNI VERSACE vintage oversized gold‑tone dangle earrings (clip-on) featuring Medusa heads and round faux‑pearl cabochons framed by Greek key motifs. These earrings embody the unmi...
Citrine Bird Carrying Mail Fob Seal Pendant "Depeche Vous" "Hurry Up" Victorian
Located in New York, NY
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CARVED CITRINE FOB PENDANT WITH AN IMAGE OF A BIRD CARRYING A MAIL ENVELOPE AND THE MOTTO "DEPECHE...
Citrine, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Enamel Locket Pendant 19th Century Silver Maiden Woman
Located in New York, NY
This is a gorgeous Locket Pendant with a hand painted enamel scene of a woman with her basket of eggs in a pastoral scene surrounded by a wonderful filigree silver setting with paste stones. The early antique jewel dates to the 19th Century. The enamel scene has been hand painted by a master artisan. The maiden wears a wonderful blue and pink and yellow dress with a yellow hat. She stands in front of trees and a cloud filled sky. On the reverse is a lovely hinged compartment in which you may place a treasured photo or memento. The remarkable pendant locket is a delicate, romantic masterpiece of the Napoleonic era. Early paste lockets...
Silver, Enamel
Gianfranco Ferre Vintage Gold Toned Jewelled Dangling Earrings
By Gianfranco Ferré
Located in Nice, FR
GIANFRANCEO FERRE vintage gold toned dangling earrings (clip-on) embellished with a faceted fuschia resin cabochon, a massive marbled pink resin drop and clear crystals. Embossed FE...
Gilt Metal