New Versace White Vanitas Barocco Quilted Nappa Leather Handbag with Gold Medusa
View Similar Items
New Versace White Vanitas Barocco Quilted Nappa Leather Handbag with Gold Medusa
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” — 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 Gianni Versace Couture, which debuted in 1989 — 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 Jimmy Choo *Lockett* Black Leather Gold Studded Medium size Top Handle BagBy Jimmy ChooLocated in Montgomery, TXNew Jimmy Choo *Lockett* Handbag Tote Black Leather, Gold-Tone Hardware, Medium Size, Magnetic Snap Closure, Center Zip Pocket, One Interior Side Pocket. Dual Rolled Top Handles, Bl...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- New Jimmy Choo *Lockett* Brown Leather Gold Studded Medium size Top Handle BagBy Jimmy ChooLocated in Montgomery, TXNew Jimmy Choo *Lockett* Handbag Tote Brown Leather, Gold-Tone Hardware, Medium Size, Magnetic Snap Closure, Center Zip Pocket, One Interior Side Pocket. Dual Rolled Top Handles, Be...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Vintage Tom Ford for Gucci 2002 Black Crocodile Wooden Handle Doctors Large BagBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXOutrageously gorgeous Gucci Doctors Large Bag! From none other, than the fabulous Tom Ford. Made of genuine crocodile skin. Two wood handles with 4'' drop. Closes with a belt on top...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- TOM FORD for GUCCI F/W 2002 AD Crocodile Brown Wooden Handle Bag Large SizeBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXOutrageously gorgeous Gucci Crocodile Bag. From none other, than the fabulous Tom Ford. Made of genuine crocodile skin. Fold accents at sides, fold...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- New $24.000 Gucci Crocodile Dusty Turquoise Top Handle Shoulder Strap Medium BagBy GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXNew Gucci Crocodile Bamboo Top Handle Bag with Shoulder Strap F/W 2017 Collection, Size Medium. Dusty Turquoise Crocodile Leather, Top Handle Bag with Removable Crocodile Shoulder St...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- NWT Roberto Cavalli F 2006 Burgundy Velour Gold Painted Crocodile Trim Large BagBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Montgomery, TXNWT Vintage Roberto Cavalli Burgundy Gold Crocodile Trim Large Velour Bag F/W 2006 Collection Amazing Gold Baroque Print over Burgundy Velour, Crocodile Leather Trim, Cavalli Iconic ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Birkin 30 Togo Gris Pale Palladium HardwareBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermès Birkin 30 Gris Pale Togo Calfskin Leather Palladium Hardware Condition & Year: New 2023 Material: Togo Calfskin Leather Measurements: 30cm x 23cm x 1...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Nancy Gonzalez Pearl White Crocodile Shoulder BagBy Nancy GonzalezLocated in Philadelphia, PANancy Gonzalez Pearl White Crocodile Shoulder Bag in good condition. White pearlized crocodile skin with double top handles and pleated body style. Top hidden magnetic closure opens ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
- Nancy Gonzalez Iridescent Peal White Crocodile HandbagBy Nancy GonzalezLocated in Philadelphia, PANancy Gonzalez Iridescent Peal White Crocodile Handbag in excellent condition. Iridescent pearl crocodile exterior with top double hand...Category
Early 2000s Top Handle Bags
- RARE Hermes Kelly Flat 35 White Swift Silver PDHBy HermèsLocated in Philadelphia, PARARE Hermes Kelly Flat 35 White Swift Silver PDH in very good condition. Originally designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, the Kelly flat is a unique take on the t...Category
Early 2000s Top Handle Bags
- Chanel Vintage Denim Quilted Drawstring Hobo Shoulder Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Pre-Owned 2008-2009 diamond quilted drawstring tote Featuring silver-tone hardware, a diamond quilted finish, an internal logo patch, chain and fabric top handles and a strip...Category
Early 2000s Italian Tote Bags
- Hermès Kelly 35 Gris Etain Togo Gold HardwareBy HermèsLocated in Berlin, DEHermès Kelly 35 in gris etain and togo leather with gold hardware. The bag is unworn comes as full set including the original receipt. Stamp D (2019)Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags