Versace
View Similar Items
Versace
About the Item
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.
- Vintage Gianni Versace Black Leather Parka Coat with Fur Cuffs & CollarBy VersaceLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Gianni Versace black leather parka style coat with black fur cuffs and collar. The coat has a drawstring front waist, elastic back waist, soft sh...Category
1990s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- Comme Des Garcons Grey Pinstripe & Black Fancy Coat Dress 2006By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Comme des Garcons a black fancy dress attached to a double-breasted grey jacket with an attached skirt in the front. From the AW 20...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Coats
- Versace Black Nylon Quilted Jacket With HoodBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is pleased to offer a vintage black nylon quilted jacket with a double-breasted front, gold and black buttons, removable hood, belt,...Category
Early 2000s Italian Jackets
- Helmut Lang Navy 4 Pocket Bondage CoatBy Helmut LangLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Helmut Lang navy blue cotton four-pocket coat with a stowaway hood, detachable pillow collar, and internal bondage straps. Collecti...Category
Early 2000s American Coats and Outerwear
- Dolce Black Wool Toggle Coat With Fur Trim HoodBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Dolce & Gabbana black wool toggle coat featuring black fur cuffs, collar, and hem, a glamourous fit and ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Coats and Outerwear
- Prada Black Goat Fur Puffer JacketBy PradaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Prada dyed, black, goat fur cropped jacket featuring 3/4 length sleeves, a high collar with a hidden hood, side slit pockets, and a...Category
Early 2000s French Fur Puffer Coats
- Rare Original Issey Miyake Black Wool Butterfly CoatBy Issey MiyakeLocated in New York, NYRare Issey Miyake black wool butterfly coat with original label. Features button closure at front center. One size fits all.Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Coats
- Genuine Ottoman Egyptian Couture Art Deco Hand Woven Paisley Brocade CoatLocated in New York, NYGenuine Egyptian Art Deco hand woven ivory brocade dress coat with indigo and mulberry floral and paisley design. Hand woven brocade border down front of coat, sleeve cuffs and all a...Category
Early 20th Century Egyptian Opera Coats
$3,600 Sale Price25% Off - Sophisticated Russian Sable Mid Length Fur Coat with 3/4 Length SleevesLocated in Tustin, CAVery sophisticated and lavish, genuine regal Russian Sable fur coat features a large and very high fashion wide shawl style collar. The fur is a very rich, dark brown with beautiful ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Overcoats
- Louis Vuitton Paris Mink Collar Ladies Black Wool Coat Size 38 US Size 6By Louis VuittonLocated in Tustin, CAElegant designer Louis Vuitton Paris ladies coat features a black wool exterior with a large, opulent black mink fur collar and soft rabbit fur lapel trim. The body of the coat is lined in quilted back polyamide, with black silk lined sleeves and black silk lined slash pockets. The backing of the collar is black silk as well. Lapels are lined in black wool and silk. Coat fastens with 5 sets of hook...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Coats
- Supreme Opulent Russian Sable Fur Stroller Length CoatLocated in Tustin, CAShown as the ultimate symbol of status and elegance, Russian Sable is considered to be the most coveted fur in the world. This Russian sable fur coat...Category
Late 20th Century American Opera Coats
$9,900 Sale Price34% Off - Italian Couture Missoni Long Belted Cardigan Sweater Coat with Wide Half SleevesBy MissoniLocated in Tustin, CALong, belted, heavy knitted cardigan sweater coat from couture Italian high end fashion designer, Missoni features a subtle pattern of light and dark gray mohair wool. Sweater has a...Category
1980s Italian Cardigans
$495 Sale Price34% Off