F/W 1994 Vintage Gianni Versace Silver Metallic Python Medusa Shoulder Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Slight loss of reflective finish from normal wear, relaxed shape, light lifting of python scales, light glue residue, and light oxidation to silver hardware.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388213428912
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. Today, his vintage dresses and gowns, handbags, sunglasses and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant.
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,” he once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life.
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 — 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. 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.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: West Hollywood, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- S/S 2004 Gucci by Tom Ford Black GG Horsebit Shoulder Bag with Pink Satin StripeBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CADesigned by Tom Ford during his tenure at the house of Gucci, this bag represents Tom's interpretation of many of Gucci's classic elements ('GG' canvas, horse bits, etc.). This shoul...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- F/W 2004 Gucci by Tom Ford Finale GG Gold Bamboo Ring Shoulder BagBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a 'GG' monogram woven small tote designed by Tom Ford for Gucci. As part of Ford's final collection with Gucci, his bag features the same gold metallic leather and bamboo hardware...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 2000s Gianni Versace by Donatella Embroidered Lizard Medusa Clutch Strap Y2KBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a purple lizard-embossed Gianni Versace frame bag designed by Donatella Versace in the early 2000s. This Y2K bag features a gunmetal Medusa medallio...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- S/S 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford Tan Patent Leather Ombré Lucite Top Handle BagBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare tan leather Gucci bag, designed by Tom Ford. This beautiful bag is constructed primarily of leather and is made complete with gold-colored accents and a clear ombré...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- S/S 2003 Gucci by Tom Ford Black Alligator Large Bullet Bag Bamboo Lock FlapBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a gorgeous black crocodile skin Gucci bullet bag, designed by Tom Ford. This iconic Tom Ford design was taken to a whole new level when he ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- F/W 1999 Christian Dior by John Galliano Pony Hair Cheetah Print Lady BagBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning cheetah print pony hair Christian Dior lady bag, designed by John Galliano. From the Fall/Winter 1999 collection, a versi...Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Mustard Clemence 35 cm Victoria II BagBy HermèsLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Hermès Mustard Clemence 35 cm Victoria II Bag is in excellent condition. The relaxed silhouette is roomy and soft to the hand in textured mustard yellow Clemence leat...Category
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
- Emilio Pucci Canvas Top Handle BagBy Emilio PucciLocated in Scottsdale, AZSnag this unique print Pucci bag for the upcoming poolside season. Emilio Pucci is known for his fluid shapes, kaleidoscopic motifs, and bright colors. This bag features a beautiful blue leather handle, intricate flower print with hues of lime green, purple, blue and black, and a spacious monogrammed interior. Think about pairing this with your favorite summer dress in your closet and some vintage Dior wedges...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
- Prada Saffiano Lux Promenade Top Handle BagBy Prada, Miuccia PradaLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis Prada Saffiano Promenade handbag is the definition of understated elegance! Prada presents a neutral rendition of their iconic Promenade handbag in this versatile beige shade complimented by yellow gold hardware. The structure of this handbag is so sleek and modern, and the inside is so functional that you are never going to get enough wear out of this handbag. The inside is broken up into 3 different sized compartments all designed with different pockets/storing features to ensure your belongings stay organized and secure! Lined with the most stunning Prada logo satin, this bag is as luxurious as it is wearable! Pair this with an Hermes skirt...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Givenchy 2011 Antigona Mini Python BagBy GivenchyLocated in Scottsdale, AZAdd some color to your looks with this amazing Givenchy Antigona bag! Circa 2011, this rare bag is beautifully crafted from laminated python and finished in vibrant hot pink. Feature...Category
2010s Italian Shoulder Bags
- TYLER ELLIS Poppy Small in Cloudy White Ostrich Feathers with White SatinBy Tyler EllisLocated in Los Angeles, CAThe Poppy is featured in Cloudy White Ostrich Feathers and Wedding White Satin. This soft pouch is designed with our custom half-metal frame and Pinecone Cl...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle Bags