GUCCI Black Jersey Knit Sleeveless Draped Shift Cocktail Dress
About the Item
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent condition aside from minor signs of light use including one small pull; light wear to hardware; few faint spots to interior (only noticeable upon close examination). Please refer to all photos.
- Seller Location:Thiensville, WI
- Reference Number:
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Thiensville, WI
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- COUTURE c.1920's Black Silk Georgette Floral Glass Beaded Flapper Evening DressLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage Couture c.1920's black silk georgette beaded flapper dress. Multicolor floral glass beaded embellishment along front, hemline, neckline, and cuffs. Scoop neckline. Short slee...Category
1920s Cocktail Dresses
- ALEXANDER McQUEEN S/S 2006 "Neptune" Black Sleeveless Cut Work Cocktail DressBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Thiensville, WIAlexander McQueen S/S 2006 black sleeveless cut work cocktail dress. From Alexander McQueen's "Neptune" collection. Tie straps. Low scoop nec...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- GALANOS c.1980's Black Ivory Avant Garde Zig Zag Panel Wool Knit Cocktail DressBy James Galanos, GalanosLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage Galanos c.1980's wool knit shift dress. Black crew neckline dress. Long sleeves with zipper closures at cuffs. Ivory geometric avant garde zig zag detail from waistline to he...Category
1980s Cocktail Dresses
- JEAN PATOU c.1960's KARL LAGERFELD Black Sequin Camellia Flower Cocktail DressBy Karl Lagerfeld, Jean PatouLocated in Thiensville, WIVintage Jean Patou c.1960's black wool cocktail dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Short sleeves with scoop neckline. Black sequin trim along cuffs and collar with beaded scallop shap...Category
1960s French Cocktail Dresses
- GEOFFREY BEENE c.1960's Black Wool Three Dimensional Ribbon Chain Cage DressBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in Thiensville, WIGeoffrey Beene c.1960's black wool architectural ribbon chain dress, originally sold at Dayton's Oval Room. Long sleeves. Mandarin collar. Empire waist. Three dimensional ribbon chai...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 2010 "Angels & Demons" "Hells Angels" Sheath Dress RAREBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Thiensville, WIAlexander McQueen A/W 2010 "Hells Angels" sheath dress. From Alexander McQueen's last collection, "Angels & Demons", in which items were recalled due to a lawsuit with the Hell's Ang...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 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
- Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
Named after a ...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Peplos
- 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
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.