Gianni Versace Medusa Watch with Black Belt
View Similar Items
Gianni Versace Medusa Watch with Black Belt
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990's
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2389519662
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.
- 1980s Disney Mickey Mouse Gold Plated Rare Collectible WatchLocated in Scottsdale, AZStep back in time with this 1980s Disney Mickey Mouse Gold Plated Rare Collectible Watch. This iconic timepiece, plated with radiant yellow gold and adorned with round clear crystals, is a true gem for collectors and Disney enthusiasts. The centerpiece is an adorable Mickey Mouse-shaped watch face, covered in dazzling crystals, making it an eye-catching and whimsical twist on the classic wristwatch. Transport yourself to the 1980s with this rare collectible piece that embodies the essence of that era. The watch is plated with lustrous yellow gold, adding a touch of elegance to its playful design. Round clear crystals adorn the watch, creating a captivating and timeless look. The Mickey Mouse-shaped watch face is the focal point, showcasing the beloved Disney character in a glamorous light. Add a touch of Disney magic to your collection with this Rare Collectible Mickey Mouse Watch...Category
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
- Vintage Bucherer 24mm 18k Gold Women’s Wrist WatchBy BuchererLocated in Miami, FLVintage Bucherer 24mm 18k Gold Women’s Wrist Watch. Stunning vintage watch made in 18k solid gold 25.5mm with crown. The watch is Swiss made and o...Category
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Chopard Happy Diamonds 18k Gold Factory DiamondsBy ChopardLocated in Ramat Gan, ILChopard Happy Diamonds, Swiss Made, In Solid 18k Yellow Gold, Factory Set With Diamonds. 15 Floating Diamonds. Factory Leather Chopard Strap. Factory Chopard 18k Yellow Gold Buckle. ...Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold
- 1981 Ladies Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust 26mm Oyster Bracelet Watch Ref. 6718By RolexLocated in Montclair, NJThis gorgeous unisex Rolex Datejust is from 1981 and reference 6718. The automatic self-winding movement runs smoothly and keeps accurate time. The watch remains in excellent overall...Category
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Vintage 14K Gold Hand Painted Reverse Intaglio Fox Horse Dog Watch BraceletLocated in Montclair, NJThis gorgeous vintage watch bracelet features wonderful portraits of a dog, fox and a jockey riding a horse done in a reversed intaglio technique. The bracelet also features a Swiss made, mechanical hand winding watch that is working and keeping accurate time. This highly collectible piece remains in excellent condition and will make a wonderful add to you collection. Enjoy :) Material: Solid 14k Yellow Gold Weight: 25.03 Grams Length: Measures 7.25 inches next to a ruler Clasp: Fold Over Clasp Width: 14.4mm (0.56") (at the watch) - 14.7mm (0.58") (at the round intaglios...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold
- Gruen Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Wrist Watch in Rare Model circa 1940'sBy GruenLocated in Long Beach, CAFACTORY / HOUSE: Gruen Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1940 DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 35mm x Width 26mm MOVEMENT / CALI...Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches