Gianni Versace Couture Spring 1998 One Shoulder Tropical Star Print Silk Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small - Medium (US)Shoulder to Hem: 39 in (99.06 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6622328173
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.
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: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Emilio Pucci Fall 2012 Purple Rayon Lace Cut Out Long Sleeve Bodycon DressBy Emilio PucciLocated in San Diego, CASexy EMILIO PUCCI Fall 2012 purple rayon jersey / lace cut-out dress ! Features a soft stretch rayon jersey with sheer lace cut-out panels at each side and on the back. This was the ...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Samir Electric Blue Lurex + Black Lace Handkerchief Hem Vintage 80s DressBy SAMIRLocated in San Diego, CASexy 1980s SAMIR metallic electric blue lurex and black lace handkerchief hem slinky spaghetti strap dress ! Features a flattering ruched body, with ...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent S/S 2012 Stefano Pilati Purple Silk Taffeta Mini Dress or TopBy Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in San Diego, CASexy YVES SAINT LAURENT YSL by Stefano Pilati purple and black silk taffeta micro mini strapless dress or top ! Features a boned tailored bodice with flirty fortuny pleated trapeze s...Category
2010s French Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage Valentino 1990s Does 1940s Size 4 navy Blue White Polka Dot 90s DressBy ValentinoLocated in San Diego, CAChic 90s does 40s vintage VALENTINO navy blue and white polka dot silk blended long sleeve dress ! Features a curved notch collar with a tailored bodice and flirty forgiving skirt. P...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Chic Pamella Roland Light Purple Lilac Beaded Bib Collar Bubble Grecian DressBy Pamella RolandLocated in San Diego, CAGorgeous Pamella / Pamela Roland dress! Prettiest light purple lilac silk fabric, that drapes in all the right areas. Oversized rhinestone attached...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Diane Freis Purple Regal Flowers and Jewels Printed Long Sleeve 80s DressBy Diane FreisLocated in San Diego, CAChic 1980s DIANE FREIS purple flower and jewel printed long sleeve midi dress ! Features a beautiful purple background color with flowers ( maybe hibiscus ) in pink, with jewel print...Category
1980s Hong Kong Cocktail Dresses
- Diane Von Furstenberg Silk Mid-Length Dress in MulticolourBy Diane von FurstenbergLocated in Carnate, ITDiane Von Furstenberg Silk Mid-Length Dress in Multicolour Diane Von Furstenberg silk dress in shades of blue and pink. Three-quarter length slightly batwing sleeves, beaded necklin...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- Vintage Cotton Maxi DressLocated in Carnate, ITVintage Cotton Maxi Dress Vintage dress no logo. Size and composition label missing. Purple / blue color. Fits an Italian 42. Measures 2...Category
Mid-20th Century Maxi Dresses
- Prada fucsia purple tulle dressBy PradaLocated in Capri, ITPrada's latest runway collection featured glowing fluorescents contrasted with tweed and construction-inspired vests, with this tulle dress making its wa...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Roberto Cavalli Napoleon Vintage Renaissance Women Vintage Pants Top Set DressBy Roberto CavalliLocated in PARIS, FRNapoleon set by Roberto Cavalli! Pants + lace up top! The set a work of art, and is a perfect showcase of Roberto Cavalli's background in art. The set features a very detailed mural...Category
1990s Italian Maxi Dresses
- 1940s Pale Blue Rayon Dress With Navy And White Pebble PrintLocated in London, GBThis charming 1940s cold rayon pebble print dress in pale blue, navy and white is captivating in its simplicity and is in beautiful vintage condition. A tidy shift cut, this dress fe...Category
1940s American Day Dresses
- 1990s Y2K Escada Silk Floral Dress with Grosgrain BeltBy EscadaLocated in London, GBSophisticated occasion dress from Escada, dating to the late 1990s or early 2000s. The dress has an abstract floral print in navy, purple and pink silk and is an unusual shirt-waiste...Category
Early 2000s Aesthetic Day Dresses