Gianni Versace Madonna Ad Gray Gingham Medusa Button Mini Skirt Suit - S, 1995
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 38 (It); comparable to size S (US)Bust: 38 in (96.52 cm)Waist: 25 in (63.5 cm)Hip: 37 in (93.98 cm)
- Style:Mama Madonna (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:11 carved Medusa buttons.
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Two faint spots on placket, hidden by buttons.
- Seller Location:Tucson, AZ
- Reference Number:
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: Tucson, AZ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- B Zuckerman Mod Jackie O Charcoal Wool Contrast Coat and Skirt Set - M-L, 1960sBy Ben ZuckermanLocated in Tucson, AZA charming mix of 1960s influences, this skirt suit pairs Mod contrast trim with the A-line midi lengths typical of the latter part of the decade. Featuring a unique scalloped rear skirt hemline, this suit is striking from both back and front and is easily broken into separates for use with other pieces. Vintage charcoal gray coat...Category
1960s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
- Marrakesh Ivory Sequin Blouson Top and Harem Pant Dinner Pajama Set - S, 1971Located in Tucson, AZAs festive and elegant as any party dress but as comfortable as pajamas, this ensemble conjures images of the Arabian Nights while remaining fashionably up-to-the-moment. Its soft, n...Category
1970s American Trouser Pant Suits
- Mod Italian Dolce Vita Black and Red Stripe A-Line Wool Vespa Suit- M, 1960sLocated in Tucson, AZIt simply doesn't get more "dolce vita" than this suit: mod A-line skirt, double knit wool, red lining, Lambretta-like hardware. Best worn atop a scooter traveling at breakneck speed...Category
1960s Italian Skirt Suits
- Edwardian White Embroidered Cotton Poplin Nightshirt Sleep Shirt - M, 1910sLocated in Tucson, AZIdentical to a contemporary button-front night shirt except this one is over 100 years old and conjures images of a Charles Dickens novel. As bright, white and crisp as it was when i...Category
1910s Unknown Nightgowns
- Black Sequin Zig Zag Edge Top, Skirt and Jogger Co-ord Set – M-L, 1980sBy Lillie RubinLocated in Tucson, AZThere’s something appealing in the contradiction of sequined sportswear because its very existence assumes there is a woman who will only dress down so far. Worn as a set, each ensem...Category
1980s Indian Trouser Pant Suits
- Halston Nude Washable Ultrasuede Belted Tunic and Pant Safari Set - M, 1970sBy HalstonLocated in Tucson, AZDesigners Roy Halston and Yves Saint Laurent both revolutionized women's daywear by introducing safari collections that incorporated practical elements like large pockets, hoods and drawstrings into the clothing newly-liberated women favored. This two-piece ensemble goes one step further with Halston's signature use of ultrasuede, which is both machine washable and dryable. Vintage pant...Category
1970s American Trouser Pant Suits
- Gianni Versace S/S 1991 Pop Art Baroque Print Swimsuit Bodysuit & Skirt SetBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Chicago, ILFrom Gianni Versace’s Spring/Summer 1991 “Pop Art” Collection, this rare set features the striking color palette and patterns the collection was famous for. Naomi Campbell graced the...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- Dior blue ostrich set, FW 2000By Christian DiorLocated in London, GBThe Ostrich leather effect along with the diamanté CD logo runs throughout the Galliano for Dior FW 2000 collection. Material: Lamskin and silk lining Siz...Category
Early 2000s European Trouser Pant Suits
- CHANEL cotton shirt & trousers setBy ChanelLocated in London, GBCHANEL Cotton Shirt & Trousers Set This CHANEL cotton shirt and trousers set is a classic and versatile piece that is perfect for any occasion. The shir...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Thierry Mugler Peplum Skirt SuitBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Waterford, MICreme peplum skirt suit. Collared. Shoulder pads. Front snap closures on blazer. Skirt is wrap style. *Condition: Great vintage condition. Chipped ...Category
1980s Skirt Suits
- Emilio Pucci Blouse and Skirt SetBy Emilio PucciLocated in Waterford, MIPurple and pink printed skirt and blouse set. Front tie at neckline. Rear zipper on skirt. Silk. Made in Italy. *Condition: Excellent vintage condition. No visible Flaws. Measureme...Category
1970s Skirt Suits
- Dolce & Gabbana Corset Skirt SuitBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Waterford, MIGrey skirt suit. Corset piping detail. Front buttons. Large collar. Stretchy. Made in Italy. *Condition: Excellent vintage condition. Visible Flaw ( ...Category
1990s Skirt Suits