Gianni Versace Black and White Check T Shirt Cut Top, 1990s
View Similar Items
Gianni Versace Black and White Check T Shirt Cut Top, 1990s
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.
- New Gucci Heart and Beach Ball Print Navy Silk Halter TopBy GucciLocated in San Francisco, CAGucci blue and red heart print silk top with beach ball print accent at neck. Deep V neck at front and slit at back with buttons at back neck. Scarf detail can be left open or tied h...Category
2010s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Moschino Couture 1980s Dove Top White and Silver Sequin on Navy T-shirtBy MoschinoLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage Moschino Couture 1980s dark navy (almost black) short sleeve blouse with cream, white, silver and gold sequin and bead dove at front. Pull on style with no closures. 55% a...Category
1980s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Givenchy Dark Denim Bustier Corset Strapless Top Stitch and Zipper DetailBy GivenchyLocated in San Francisco, CAGivenchy dark denim corset style tube top with contrasting golden yellow stitch detail and double zip and lace up detail at back. Fastens with zipp...Category
2010s Italian Bustiers
- Moschino Cheap & Chic 1990s Smile and Frown Face Vest Green with Stripe BackBy MoschinoLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage Moschino Cheap & Chic 1990s green vest featuring a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other. (Moschino was way ahead on emoji style!) Red tr...Category
1990s Italian Vests
- Prada Palm Tree Print Black Silk TopBy PradaLocated in San Francisco, CAPrada black silk top with fuschia and teal palm tree print. Lace trim ruffle cascading down front. Short sleeves, tie neck. 100% silk. Size IT 42,...Category
Early 2000s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Lanvin 2010s Silk Heart Print Blue Black Green One Shoulder TopBy Lanvin ParisLocated in San Francisco, CALanvin heart print top in blue featuring black hearts outlined in a bold green hue. One shoulder with pleat detail at seam, loosely gathered elastic at hem creates a blousy fit. 100...Category
2010s American Blouses
- Vintage Dolce & Gabbana Sheer Cheetah Print Ruffle Lace See Through T Shirt TopBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Malibu, CA🖤Dolce & Gabbana Perfection🖤 Vintage Dolce & Gabbana stunning early 2000s sheer cheetah print top. Fitted and totally on trend with the body hugging style. With delicate details ...Category
Early 2000s T-Shirts
- Christian Dior Navy Blue Iconic Logo Tank Top Tank Top T-ShirtBy Christian DiorLocated in Hoffman Estates, ILChristian Dior navy blue logo tank top T-Shirt.Category
21st Century and Contemporary French T-Shirts
$999 Sale Price20% Off - Extremely Rare Chanel CC Logo Cropped T-shirt Black 1996By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Hoffman Estates, ILIconic Chanel logo cropped t-shirt featuring CC logos in black. From 1996 Spring collection, designed by Karl Lagerfeld. This is a well-known piece among Chanel collectors.Category
1990s French T-Shirts
- F/W 1992 Gianni Versace Bondage Buckle Bustier Bra Top Miss S&MBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Concord, NCGianni Versace Couture black bustier bra top from the Fall/Winter 1992 “Miss S&M” collection. As seen on Yasmeen Ghauri, and Helena Christensen on the Fall Winter 1992 runway, and on...Category
1990s Italian Bustiers
- S/S 1991 Gianni Versace Vogue Pop Art Printed Silk ShirtBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Concord, NCGianni Versace Vogue vintage multicolored printed pop art shirt from the Spring 1991 collection. Featuring the iconic Vogue print with Vogue magaz...Category
1990s Italian Shirts
- DOLCE & GABBANA - Silk Tank Top with Tiger Animal Print Size 4US 36EUBy Dolce & Gabbana, D&G by DOLCE & GABBANALocated in Cuggiono, MIThe iconic tiger print by Dolce & Gabbana is the main theme of this tank top, which features a soft silk fabric and ruffled neckline. This summer top is super comfortable and fresh a...Category
2010s Hungarian Tank Tops