Gianni Versace Couture Bag 1990s Vintage - Black Leather + Medusa Head Studs
View Similar Items
Gianni Versace Couture Bag 1990s Vintage - Black Leather + Medusa Head Studs
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 8.27 in (21 cm)Width: 12.6 in (32 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:KENT, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2174220459592
Gianni Versace Couture
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. The designer debuted his Atelier Versace line — which was part of the first Versace haute couture collection — in 1989.
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” — 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, Versace 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 — and 1989's Gianni Versace Couture — 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 Gianni Versace Couture bags, dresses and more on 1stDibs.
- Vanda Smith Neck Bag - Beaded Vintage Lace - One-Off PieceLocated in KENT, GBProduct Details: Vanda Smith - Beaded Antique Lace Neck Bag - Necklace - One-Off Piece - Delicate Hand Beading + Gunmetal Chain & Beaded Tassels Throughout - Suede Pocket Bag & Necklace inc 1930s Vintage Lace Top...Category
Early 2000s British Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Vanda Smith Bag - Vintage Lace & Suede - Hand Beaded - Gunmetal Chain TasselsLocated in KENT, GBProduct details: Vanda Smith - 1930s Vintage Lace Bag - Intricate Hand Beading - Delicate Gunmetal Chain Tassel Detailing - Main Structure / Suede Label: V...Category
Early 2000s British Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Vanda Smith Bag - Vintage Lace & Suede - Hand Beading - Gunmetal Chain TasselsLocated in KENT, GBProduct details: Vanda Smith - 1930s Vintage Lace Bag - Intricate Hand Beading - Delicate Gunmetal Chain Tassel Detailing - Main Structure / Suede Label: V...Category
2010s British Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Vivienne Westwood - Heart Crossbody Bag - Gold Leopard Jacquard - NEW With TagsBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in KENT, GBProduct Details: Vivienne Westwood - Gold Leopard Jacquard Heart Crossbody Bag - Adjustable / Removable Brass Strap - Vegan - NEW With Tags - Spacious Interior - Satin ‘Orb’ Print In...Category
2010s British Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
$461 Sale Price20% Off - Vivienne Westwood - Smiley Zip Pouch / Bag - Embroidered Detailing - NEWBy Anglomania Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne WestwoodLocated in KENT, GBProduct Details: Vivienne Westwood - Smiley Zip Pouch / Bag- Embroidered ‘Smiley Face’ & ‘Orb Logo’ Front Detailing - Zip Closure Label: Vivienne Westwood - Anglomania Fabric Conten...Category
2010s British Pouches and Wristlets
$202 Sale Price20% Off - Issey Miyake BaoBao - Rucksack Bag - Metallic Silver - Adjustable Back StrapsBy Issey MiyakeLocated in KENT, GBProduct Details: Issey Miyake BaoBao - Rucksack Bag - Coated Metallic Silver Plastic Triangular Outer - Clip Lock Outer Fasten - Adjustable Toggled Inner Fasten - Inner Zipped Pocket...Category
2010s Japanese Backpacks
$435 Sale Price20% Off
- Chanel Orylag Triple Chain Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBA stylish and Chic Chanel Orylag flap bag from the Fall/Winter 2015 Act 1 Collection. The exterior of this bag features a navy orylag fur with antiqued s...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Bags and Minaudières
- Tom Ford Crystal-Embellished Mini Clutch BagBy Tom FordLocated in London, GBA stunning crystal-embellished mini clutch bag by Tom Ford. This clutch features crystal-embellished soft goatskin leather and contrasting silver-tone ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
$3,045 Sale Price25% Off - Chanel vintage black satin cc logo letter evening clutchBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLVery RARE classy and sophisticated while still maintaining an edgy feel CC metal frame magnetic closure interior is lined with CC monogram microfiber interior has interior pocket C...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
- Louis Vuitton Sobe Clutch Electric Epi Leather BurgundyBy Louis VuittonLocated in Palm Beach, FLCrafted handbag in a streamlined form with amaranth Electric Epi leather and a silver-toned LV emblem on the front. This clutch is both functional and elegant, making it ideal for nu...Category
2010s Italian Clutches
- Chanel Vintage 1997 Name Plate Black Patent Leather Top Handle BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage 1997 Name Plate Black Patent Leather Top Handle Bag Year 1997 Chanel handbag crafted in black quilted patent leather, featuring in...Category
1990s French Top Handle Bags
- Chanel Vintage 1990 Alligator Skin Leather Classic Flap Bag Convertible ClutchBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLSmall black Chanel crocodile envelope flap with vintage chain 1990 {VINTAGE 33 Years} Vintage gold hardware Interior black leather lining Crocodile...Category
1990s French Clutches