Gianni Versace New Dress with Hardware
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: XS, S, (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5115169023
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. 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,” Versace once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life. Today, vintage Gianni Versace clothing, handbags and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant.
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 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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Water Mill, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Valentino Dress with Cut out sides 1990sBy ValentinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous silk blend dress in a subtle black and white herringbone pattern from Valentino. It is sleeveless with a V neckline and black lace covered cut outs as the sides of the wai...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vicky Tiel Silk Damask Dress 1980sBy Vicky TielLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful off white silk damask dress with a red flower print from Vicky Tiel. It has front pockets and closes with self covered buttons. The cap sleev...Category
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Pierre Cardin Silk Cape Back Dress 1960sBy Pierre CardinLocated in Water Mill, NYAn incredible dress from Pierre Cardin in off white silk with abstract navy shapes. The neckline, wrists and hem are highlighted with rows of top stitching on solid off white. An amazing cape panel drapes from the shoulders at the back of the dress. The dress and cape are fully silk lined and has a fine back hand stitched painted metal zipper. A rare couture...Category
1960s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Halston 1970s Documented Beaded DressBy HalstonLocated in Water Mill, NYFeatured in "Halston: An American Original" by Elaine Gross and Red Rottham, this beautiful sleeveless off white silk dress from Halston is comple...Category
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Valentino Boutique Black and White Beaded DressBy ValentinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous off white silk dress completely covered in black and white glass beads from Valentino Boutique. It is sleeveless with a scoop neckline...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Tom Ford New Plunge Dress with Cut outsBy Tom FordLocated in Water Mill, NYAn incredible dress from Tom Ford in off white silk. It has a plunging neckline, long sleeves with zippers at the wrists and black mesh covered oval cut outs at the side hips, side ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Antik Batik Pink Silk Leather Kaftan Blouson DressLocated in Brindisi, BtAntik Batik women's vintage short dress. Powder pink color, 100% silk, applications sewn by hand 100% leather. V-neckline, elasticated waist belt, lined. 1...Category
1990s Indian Tunics and Wrap Dresses
- Alberta Ferretti Gray Cotton Vintage Off Shoulder DressBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in Brindisi, BtAlberta Ferretti 90s vintage off shoulder dress. Short dress with sweetheart neckline, gray with white stitching. Zip closure along the chest, on th...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Alaia Iconic White and Black Short DressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Paris, FRAlaia flared dress featuring a white and black geometric pattern, a scalloped neck, an invisible back zip fastening, a sleeveless design, a fitted waist, a flared skirt, a short leng...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Mini Dress
- Comme des Garcons Coveted 2011 Hybrid Vintage Scarf DressBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Los Angeles, CARei Kawakubo's "Hybrid Fashion" collection of F/W 2011 features asymmetric ruched, twisted and draped dresses on a background, showcasing a colorful display of multiple vintage silk scarves. Rei has incorporated her longtime personal collection of scarves into this unique, vintage scarf dress...Category
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Versace multicoloured dress chemisier with belt NWOTBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Capri, ITVersace multicoloured dress chemisier with belt NWOTCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- Nina Ricci White Cotton Blend Lace Dress FR36By Nina RicciLocated in Brossard, QCLined with silk for a luxurious feel, nina ricci's cotton-blend lace dress is a fantasy of a frock. The snow-white colour, flocks of texture at the hem and a-line silhouette make it...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Cocktail Dresses