F/W 2003 Versace by Donatella Black Zipper Flare Runway Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 42IT (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear throughout.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388218580962
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: West Hollywood, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- S/S 2005 Roberto Cavalli Silk Seashell Animal Print Cream Satin Slip DressBy Roberto CavalliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning sea motif and cheetah print silk Roberto Cavalli slip dress. From the Spring/Summer 2005 collection, this beautiful dress comb...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2001 Gianni Versace by Donatella Black Viscose Leather Trim Ruched DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a sensual black Versace dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Spring/Summer 2001 collection, the printed blue version of this dress debuted on the season's runway...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2003 Roberto Cavalli Floral Abstract Watercolor Silk Stretch Flare DressBy Roberto CavalliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning cream and multicolor floral Roberto Cavalli dress. From the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, this slip dress features a v-neckline, flared skirt, and high-low hem...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2005 Roberto Cavalli Runway Black Studded Pleat Boned Strapless Mini DressBy Roberto CavalliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning black pleated Roberto Cavalli mini dress. From the Fall/Winter 2005 collection, a nearly identical version of this dress appeared on the season's runway as look 49 modeled by Gemma Ward...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1989 Valentino Garavani Ad Campaign Black Sheer Panel Bodycon Cocktail DressBy Valentino Garavani, ValentinoLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful black sheer Valentino Garavani cocktail dress. From the Spring/Summer 1989 collection, this fabulous dress was highlighted in the season's ad campaign modeled ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2003 Gucci by Tom Ford Cherry Blossom Print Stretch Viscose Mini DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a cherry blossom print Gucci dress, designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, the short sleeve version of this ico...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Adolfo Tropical Silk Jersey Strapless Dress with Half CapeletBy AdolfoLocated in New York, NYAdolfo strapless dress with bold green, indigo and white tropical floral print. Wonderfully tailored, with fitted bodice and draped open tulip front slit above the knee for movement...Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Leonard of Paris Pastel Silk Chiffon Day / Evening DressBy Leonard of ParisLocated in New York, NYPretty pastel silk chiffon Leonard of Paris special occasion day / evening dress. Bodice has a ruffled capelet that flows from the center of the dress...Category
Late 20th Century French Day Dresses
- Leonard of Paris Fuschia Multi Color Silk Chiffon Strapless GownBy Leonard of ParisLocated in New York, NYVintage Leonard of Paris bright and flirty ruffled silk chiffon cocktail dress / evening gown, unmarked size, approximately US 6. Featuring four layer...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- ALAÏA 1990 black knitted mini dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHAlaïa knitted mini dress with sheer raised edge skirt -Back closing with a hidden set zipper -Long sleeves -Nude knitted lining -Made in Italy -100% V...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- ALBERTO BINI 1990 leather mini dress with gold tone Lion NEW with tagBy AlbertoLocated in Genève, CHThis vintage dress from Alberto Bini is coming directly from the 90s, and it's also a beautiful ode to Versace universe. -Lion detail in metal gold tone ...Category
1980s French Mini Dress
- HERMES Unworn Baroque Bodycon lycra Mini dress, 90sBy HermèsLocated in Genève, CHBeautiful vintage Hermès lycra sleeveless mini dress, from 90s period. This light turquoise/yellow/cream baroque print Hermes dress is in perfect conditio...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress