Vintage 1998 Versace Couture Documented Runway Sheer Floral Silk Slip Dress
View Similar Items
Vintage 1998 Versace Couture Documented Runway Sheer Floral Silk Slip Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 40 in (101.6 cm)Marked Size: 42 (EU)
- Style:1990s (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU30920494682
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.
- Vintage 1920's Magenta Pink Beaded & Rhinestone Silk-Velvet Flapper Deco DressLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA simply stunning and seldom found magenta pink heavily beaded silk-velvet dance dress dating back to the mid-1920's. Vibrant colored flapper dresses from this decade are perennial f...Category
1920s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- 2000 Christian Dior by Galliano Purple Silk Sheer-Sleeve Asymmetric Draped GownBy John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn incredibly chic and ultra rare Christian Dior plum purple silk asymmetric draped gown from John Galliano's highly acclaimed 2000 spring-summer collection. John Galliano is widely ...Category
Early 2000s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1950's Pauline Trigere Black Lace & Ivory Satin Off-Shoulder Party DressBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn exceptionally beautiful, museum worthy Pauline Trigère designer dress dating back to the early 1950's. These early examples of her work are hard to come by. During this time period, Pauline Trigère's name was part of the glamorous excess in Hollywood fashion. Her exquisite tailoring and feminine fitting clothing were highly desired by the wealthy and famous. Trigère designs commanded some of the highest prices...Category
1950s American Wedding Dresses
- Vintage 1999 Galindo Couture Metallic Amber Devoré Velvet Bias-Cut Trained GownLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn absolutely breathtaking and incredibly rare Galindo Couture "Where Angels Rest" metallic amber devoré silk-velvet trained gown dating back to fall/winter 1999. This custom couture dress was made for Melanie Griffith who wore this incredible look while attending the Producers Guild Awards with Antonio Banderas. The fabric used to create this gown is sensational; shimmering metallic amber devoré silk-velvet in the prettiest large-scale rose garden motif. I love the front plunge and very low-cut sides which work flawlessly with the incredible double layered draped cowl back. The flattering trained bias-cut is such a beautiful nod to 1930's fashion which was made very popular during this time due to John Galliano's vintage inspired collections...Category
1990s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 2004 Gucci by Tom Ford Pleated Purple Silk Bell Sleeve Cut-Out DressBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAbsolutely gorgeous and instantly recognizable 2004 fall/winter Gucci by Tom Ford documented runway look #27 worn by Liya Kebede . This iconic purple show-stopper is one of the most coveted dresses from his last collection with Gucci. Vogue stated, "The emotional ending of the Tom Ford era at Gucci was a look back in glamour—a fabulous farewell in which this perfection-obsessed superstar of fashion seized the moment to run his eye over everything he has achieved for the brand, and then do it better. There is no doubt who the Gucci woman...Category
Early 2000s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1960's André Courrèges Black Vinyl-Bows Minimalist Space-Age Mod GownBy André CourrègesLocated in Beverly Hills, CAAn ultra chic André Courrèges Paris vibrant black minimalist gown dating back to the late 1960's. Andre Courreges launched his unique space-age collection in 1964. The shapes of his ...Category
1960s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 2018 Red Cut-Out Gown XSBy Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Alexander McQueenLocated in Berlin, BEALEXANDER MCQUEEN 2018 Red Cut-Out Gown Brand: Alexander McQueen Designer: Sarah Burton Collection / Year: 2018 Fabric: Viscose / Silk Color: Red Size: ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Gowns
- New LANVIN Duchesse Satin Vintage Gray Long Wedding Celebrity Gown US 2 4 FR 36By Lanvin ParisLocated in Goshen, KYSize: French 36 Brand: LANVIN Color: Light Dove Gray Season: Vintage Features: Strapless sweetheart neckline Draped detail throughout Ruffle detail at side Belt at waist Long leng...Category
2010s Wedding Dresses
- Vintage 1950's Neymar Couture Duchess Satin & Beaded Gown UK 4 US 0Located in Cheltenham, GBA once in a lifetime piece, this original 1950's Neymar Couture duchess satin gown, in the most sumptuous shade of cream, showcases true craftsmanship i...Category
1950s Ball Gowns
- Vintage 1930's Pleated & Ruched Amber Satin Dress UK 10 US 6Located in Cheltenham, GBA beauty to behold, this original 1930's satin dress rendered in the most sumptuous shade of amber satin, is the perfect statement piece for your special occasion wardrobe. The rou...Category
1930s Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1960's yellow sequin beaded cocktail dress wiggle dress UK 12 US 8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking 1960's yellow knitted wool dress, embellished in its entirety with clear iridescent sequins, and finished with floral beaded details in yellow rocaille beads, and i...Category
1960s Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1950's Duchess Satin Sweet Pink Pleated Dress UK 8-10 US 4-6Located in Cheltenham, GBA true beauty to behold. This original 1950's duchess satin dress, rendered in a soft shade of sweet pink and accented by the most divine pleat wor...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses