1990s Gianni Versace Green Top Handle Handbag
View Similar Items
1990s Gianni Versace Green Top Handle Handbag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Scottsdale, AZ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU16721740913
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.
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.
- Chanel 1990s Patent Leather Tweed Print ToteBy ChanelLocated in Scottsdale, AZChange up your Chanel collection with this rare Chanel tote! Circa 1994-1996, this structured shopping tote features Chanel's signature tweed in rich red, yellow and black but with a...Category
1990s French Top Handle Bags
- Hérmes 42cm Vert Chartreuse Clemence JPG Shoulder BirkinBy HermèsLocated in Scottsdale, AZA classic Birkin with a twist! Circa 2005, this 42cm Birkin is named after its designer, John Paul Gaultier. Originally created in 2005, Gaultier took the classic Birkin and gave it ...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
On Hold$21,500 - Hérmes 42cm Noir Clemence JPG Shoulder BirkinBy HermèsLocated in Scottsdale, AZA classic Birkin with a twist! Circa 2005, this 42cm Birkin is named after its designer, John Paul Gaultier. Originally created in 2005, Gaultier took the classic Birkin and gave it a new look which features a slouchy style with tall dual top handles, allowing the bag to be worn on the shoulder. Noted for it's softness and slouchier/more casual look, this Birkin is crafted from Noir Clemence leather and includes oversized silver tone Palladium plated hardware. The interior is lined in Rouge colored goatskin...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
On Hold$21,500 - Hérmes 42cm White Clemence JPG Shoulder BirkinBy HermèsLocated in Scottsdale, AZA classic Birkin with a twist! Circa 2006, this 42cm Birkin is named after its designer, John Paul Gaultier. Originally created in 2006, Gaultier took the classic Birkin and gave it a new look which features a slouchy style with tall dual top handles, allowing the bag to be worn on the shoulder. Noted for its softness and slouchier/more casual look, this Birkin is crafted from White Clemence leather and includes oversized silver tone Palladium plated hardware. The interior is lined in White colored goatskin...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
On Hold$18,500 - Gianni Versace Couture 1997 Absolut Vodka BagBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Scottsdale, AZCalling all Versace collectors! Circa 1997 for the Absolut Vodka campaign, this mini bag is crafted from white leather and features silver Medusa hardwar...Category
1990s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Gianni Versace Vanitas Quilted HandbagBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Scottsdale, AZCalling all Versace lovers! Circa mid 2000s, this handbag is crafted from white leather and features quilted stitching with the signature Versace Baroque...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1980s Braccialini Deadstock Vintage Green Leather handbag w Dust Bag & TagLocated in Portland, ORThis is a gorgeous, supple green leather vintage Braccialini handbag with black patent leather on the double handles and fold over clasp. ...Category
1980s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 1990s Chanel Quilted Mint Green Top Handle BagBy ChanelLocated in London, GBVintage Chanel Mint Green (pastel light green) quilted top handle tote bag, matte gold handle with beautiful pearl stud edges, two separate purse opening slots with pearl pink color ...Category
1990s French Clutches
- Hermes 35 Apple Green Kelly Swift LeatherBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes 1998 Kelly Apple green colour (vert cru). 35 swift leather This stunning pre-owned 1998, (letter B) is timeless piece, This colour is very hard to find. Has been expertly crafted from swift leather. This Kelly bag takes about 24 hours to produce, all hand stitches by only one Hermès artisan, That’s the reason why is the most wanted woman’s bag...Category
1990s French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Bamboo Birkin 30 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Birkin 30 Bamboo Birkin Bag. Excellent condition. Gold hardware. Rare and most wanted green color. Size is most desired too. Interior clean. Includes clochette, lock, keys, an...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
Sold$24,900 - Fendi green Emerald croco leather Peekaboo shoulder bag / handle bagBy FendiLocated in Capri, ITFendi green Emerald croco leather Peekaboo Gold tone hardware. Croco Emerald green shoulder strap Cites inside Measurements: 33*24*13 cmCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Shoulder Bags
- Hermes Bambou Togo Birkin 30 GHWBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYListing Title: Hermes Bambou Togo Birkin 30 GHW SKU: 134283 Condition: Pre-owned Handbag Condition: Excellent Condition Comments: Item is in excellent condition and displays light s...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags