1990s Versace Couture Cut Out Gown
View Similar Items
1990s Versace Couture Cut Out Gown
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” — as 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, 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 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.
- 1980s Prom Night Blacke Dress Embellished Pois on SkirtLocated in Capri, IT1980s Prom Night Blacke Dress Embellished Pois on Skirt Totally made in italy Composition: Viscose polyester polyamide Size 36Category
1980s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$87 Sale Price42% Off - Chic 1960s Black and White Gingham Long Sleeve A - Line Vintage 60s Wool DressLocated in San Diego, CAChic late 1960s black and white large houndstooth long sleeve A-line dress! Features a fitted bodice with a full skirt. Oversized collar, and bell sleeves that cuff at the hem. Featu...Category
1960s American Shift Dresses
$395 Sale Price33% Off - Dolce & Gabbana D&G Black and Gray Ruched Corset DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Oakland, CASexy as ever Dolce & Gabanna bodycon ruched corset dress with boning. Black with dark heather grey front panels. Adjustable lingerie straps. Full length back zipper. Hits a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- DRIES VAN NOTEN geometric draped silk asymmetric cotton sleeves dress FR36 SBy Dries van NotenLocated in Hong Kong, NTDRIES VAN NOTEN geometric draped silk asymmetric cotton sleeves dress FR36 S Reference: CELG/A00113 Brand: Dries Van Noten Designer: Dries Van Noten Material: Silk Color: Blue ...Category
2010s Cocktail Dresses
- Azzedine Alaïa F/W 2001 Vintage Halter Backless Black Gown Maxi DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Naples, FLAzzedine Alaïa 2001 Vintage Halter Backless Black Gown Maxi Dress Size M Alaïa black maxi dress featuring halter neckline, open back. flared hem with train...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace F/W 1993 Runway Couture Sheer Knit Mesh Lace Evening Dress GownBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Naples, FLGianni Versace F/W 1993 Runway Couture Sheer Knit Mesh Lace Bustier Black Evening Dress Gown IT 44 Excellent Condition!Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns