Gianni Versace Postcard Print Silk Shirt and Pleated Skirt
View Similar Items
Gianni Versace Postcard Print Silk Shirt and Pleated Skirt
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” — as 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, 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. 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.
- Stella McCartney S/S 2016 pink red rubbed button up polo top and skirt ensembleBy Stella McCartneyLocated in Paris, FRStella McCartney S/S 2016 ensemble Pink and red matching button up polo top and skirt FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!!! Composition: 79% viscose, 21% polyester Size: Top IT 36 Skirt IT 3...Category
2010s Italian Skirts
- COMME DSE GARCONS 1980's Vintage red polka babydoll skirt down set SBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Hong Kong, NTCOMME DSE GARCONS 1980's Vintage red polka babydoll skirt down set S Reference: CRTI/A00581 Brand: Comme Des Garcons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection: 1980's Material: Cotton Color: Red Pattern: Polka Dot Closure: Button Extra Detail: Famous Comme Des Garcons polka dot...Category
1990s Japanese Shirts
- Vintage Missoni 1990s Turquoise Teal Blue Knit Vintage 90s Halter Top OR SkirtBy MissoniLocated in San Diego, CAChic vintage 1990s MISSONI turquoise, teal, and blue signature rayon knit halter top OR skirt! Features bold vibrant shades of blue that are perfect on any skin tone. Simple slips ov...Category
1990s Italian Halter Tops
- 1990s Calvin Klein Collection Ivory Silk Mini Skirt Or Strapless Top Unworn 90sBy Calvin KleinLocated in San Diego, CAChic vintage 1990s unworn CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION silk mini skirt OR strapless top! This is one of those pieces that TRULY can be worn as wither a skirt or blouse, and looks like it ...Category
1990s Italian Ruffled Skirts
- ALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1998 "Joan" Burgundy Pleated Strapless Cotton Bustier TopBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Thiensville, WIALEXANDER McQUEEN A/W 1998 "Joan" Burgundy Maroon Pleated Strapless Cotton Bustier Top Brand / Manufacturer: Alexander McQueen Collection: A/W 1998 Style: Pleated strapless top C...Category
1990s Italian Strapless Tops
- EMILIO PUCCI c.1970’s 2pc Multi-Color Signature Print Tank Top Skirt Dress SetBy Emilio PucciLocated in Thiensville, WIEMILIO PUCCI c.1970’s 2pc Multi-Color Signature Print Top Skirt Dress Set Circa: 1970’s Label(s): Emilio Pucci Style: Tank top, a-line skirt Color(s): Shades of pink, orange, yel...Category
1970s Italian Tank Tops