Versace Spring 2008 Runway Purple Blue Cape Back Jersey Avant Garde Dress Sz 42
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT 42 / US 6 / 8 (EU)Shoulder to Hem: 38 in (96.52 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU66218246082
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: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 1980s Albert Nipon Size 10 Blue Silk Abstract Stiped Vintage 80s Belted DressBy Albert NiponLocated in San Diego, CAChic vintage 1980s ALBERT NIPON blue abstract striped print silk belted dress ! Features a pleated bodice with black brush like stripes throughout. Bishop style sleeves with buttons ...Category
1980s Hong Kong Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Paisley Purple Blue Green Boho Vintage Cotton Rayon 70s Maxi Halter DressLocated in San Diego, CAStylish vintage 1970s paisley halter maxi dress ! Features a paisley print with voibrant colors of purple, green, blue, pink and teal throughout. Soft co...Category
1970s American Maxi Dress
- 1980s Ted Lapidus Size 6 Turquoise Blue Silk Beaded Sequin Vintage 80s GownBy Ted LapidusLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful early 1990s TED LAPIDUS turquoise blue silk beaded evening halter gown ! Features thousands of hand-sewn beads in silver and blue, sequins in blue and pearls throughout the...Category
1980s Evening Gowns
- 1990s Royal Blue Silk Chiffon Beaded Sequin Open Back Vintage 90s Dress GatsbyLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing early 90s royal blue silk chiffon beaded sequin long sleeve dress ! Thousands of hand-sewn beads throughout look phenomenal on, especially while dancing. Built in shoulder pa...Category
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1950s Elliette Lewis Teal Blue Silk Chiffon 50s Vintage Dress w/ Pleated BodiceBy ELLIETTE LEWISLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful 1950s ELLIETTE LEWIS teal blue silk chiffon dress! Pleated ruched bodice has a Grecian feel, and features cap sleeves. Flattering straight skirt. Multiple layers of soft si...Category
1950s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1990s Tadashi Shoji Royal Blue Vintage Bodycon Ruched Long Sleeve Mini DressBy Tadashi ShojiLocated in San Diego, CASexy yet sophisticated vintage early 90s TADASHI SHOJI royal blue bodcon double ply jersey mini dress! Wonderful vibrant blue color, with a fit that is to die for! Flattering ruching...Category
1990s American Mini Dresses
- Richilene for Elizabeth Arden 1970s Blue Sheer Silk Midi DressBy RichileneLocated in Sparks, NVGorgeous sheer washy Atlantic blue silk midi dress by Richilene for Elizabeth Arden. This dress features long sheer balloon sleeves, a ruffled collar and full sweep triple layered sk...Category
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
- Valentino Miss V Green white pois DressBy ValentinoLocated in Capri, ITValentino Miss V Green white pois Dress Totally made in italy in italian size range 46Category
1980s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1940S Blue Teal Silk Kimono With Butterfly PrintLocated in New York, NY1940S Blue Teal Silk Kimono With Butterfly PrintCategory
1940s Japanese Day Dresses
- 1970s Richilene Vintage Blue Velvet Devore Long Sleeve Maxi DressBy RichileneLocated in Beverly Hills, CAVintage Richilene 1970s Navy blue and black Silk Velvet Devore Long Sleeve evening gown. Gown lined in silk. Size: Medium - Large Bust: 40 inch /...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
- John Galliano Vintage Teal Blue Silk Halter GownBy John GallianoLocated in Beverly Hills, CABeautiful Late 1990s John Galliano empire sweetheart bust bias cut gown with thin spaghetti strap with slit. Big bow ties in the front. Fit US size 4 or 6 Bu...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses
- Oscar de la Renta Blue Turquoise Sleeveless Silk Dress W Bubble Hem Resort 2009By Oscar De La RentaLocated in Portland, ORThis is a timeless dress designed by Oscar de la Renta himself for his 2009 Resort collection. Oscar de la Renta always designed the most flattering dresses and we love his pieces! He was a designer we will always miss! The dress is in a lovely turquoise blue silk and is a sleeveless shirtwaist style with a surprise bubble hem! The dress buttons half way up the front and appears to have been only worn once if ever! This is a wonderful wedding guest dress...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns