Runway 1997 Gianni Versace Couture Black Jersey Midi Dress Padded White Straps
View Similar Items
Runway 1997 Gianni Versace Couture Black Jersey Midi Dress Padded White Straps
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.
- 2008 Alexander McQueen Black Silk with Sheer Side Panels DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen fitted black silk dress with sheer mesh teardrop shaped panels at sides with nude lining beneath. The unexpected panels add just enough edginess to a classic black dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Dolce and Gabbana Unworn 2006 Black Lace Dress with Gold Laurel Trim Ad CampaignBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in San Francisco, CADolce and Gabbana black lace dress with band below bust featuring gold laurel embroidery. Slightly peekaboo black built in bra (a si...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Christian Dior Purple Chiffon Draped Cold Shoulder Cocktail DressBy Christian DiorLocated in San Francisco, CAChristian Dior 1990s purple chiffon cocktail dress with strap detailing at chest and draped detail at front and back. Light floaty chiffon layered over a silk slip. Fastens on one s...Category
1990s French Cocktail Dresses
- Alexander McQueen 2006 Purple Velvet Cocktail DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen purple velvet dress with portrait collar from the 2000s. Neckline is just slightly off the shoulder with a sculpturally draped ef...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Alexander McQueen 2008 Black Drop Waist Dress with Pink Silk Band DetailBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen black sleeveless drop waist dress with deep v back and black and pink silk bands at dropped waist. From the 2008 collection created as a tribute to McQueen's mentor...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Alexander McQueen Black Silk Gown with Draped Arm DetailBy Alexander McQueenLocated in San Francisco, CAAlexander McQueen 2017 black silk gown with a pleating at color and asymmetrical draped arm detail. Back zip with two snaps and buttons at back neck. 10...Category
2010s Italian Evening Gowns
- Badgley Mischka Beaded Black Silk Lace Evening Gown Size US 10By Badgley MischkaLocated in New York, NYBadgley Mischka glamorous black silk lace evening gown, size US 10. Gown features hand beaded and embroidered lace with glass jet beading, and neckline with glass jet beads along cu...Category
Late 20th Century American Evening Gowns
- Rare LARRY ALDRICH COUTURE 1950s Silk Taffeta Bow & Button Cocktail DressLocated in Asheville, NCLarry Aldrich, 1950's Era Vintage Couture, Silk Taffeta, V Neck Front Wrap Style with Bow, Two Front Pockets, Nine Fabric Back Buttons, Built-in Moderate Crinoline with Hook and Eye ...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses
$909 Sale Price30% Off - Calvin Klein Black Lace Cocktail Dress, c. 1990s.By Calvin KleinLocated in New York, NYCalvin Klein Black Lace Cocktail Dress, c. 1990s. Calvin Klein Black Lace Cocktail Dress featuring low cut V-ncekline and shoulder pads. Beautiful Lace hem extends past chiffon linin...Category
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Black Gown with Open Back, 1990.By Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in New York, NYYves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Black Gown with Open Back, 1990. Full length woven dress with waistband. Features slit at center front and open ...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses
- Gianfranco Ferré black gown with sheer sleeves, ca. 1970By Gianfranco FerréLocated in New York, NYGianfranco Ferré black gown with sheer sleeves, ca. 1970 Long black wool dress with subtle shimmer featuring waistcoat-style bodice with sheer sleeves. Mermaid skirt features diagona...Category
1970s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Thierry Mugler Haute Couture Green Velvet Dress with Belt, "VAMPIRE DRESS" 1981.By Thierry Mugler CoutureLocated in New York, NYThierry Mugler Haute Couture Green Velvet Dress with Belt, "VAMPIRE DRESS" 1981. Off the shoulder puff-sleeve green velvet dress featuring fitted inner s...Category
1980s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses