1990s Atelier Versace by Gianni Versace Beaded Mesh Silk Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: No tag, fits best S or US 4-6 (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Stunning piece.
- Seller Location:Switzerland, CH
- Reference Number:
Atelier 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. The designer debuted his Atelier Versace line — which was part of his first 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 Atelier Versace dresses, evening gowns and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Switzerland, Switzerland
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- UNWORN Dolce Gabbana Corset Dress & Coat Suit Ensemble Frayed Exotic TrimmingBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Switzerland, CHStunning Dolce & Gabbana dress Boned corset for a perfect, body-hugging fit Woven fabric Fringe trimming Matching coat with exotic skin trimming Beautiful details Made in Italy Dry C...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Dress and Coat Ensembles
- GIANNI VERSACE Demin/Jeans-Style Distressed Leather Dress Gown 2001By Gianni VersaceLocated in Switzerland, CHFANTASTIC GIANNI VERSACE COUTURE DENIM/JEANS-STYLE DISTRESSED LEATHER GOWN AS SHOWN ON THE RUNWAY SHOW AND AD CAMPAIGN SOLD OUT IMMEDIATELY Impossible to find! ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Maxi Dress
- UNWORN Dolce & Gabbana 1996 Cherry Print Corset Silk Cocktail Dress Gown 42By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Switzerland, CHBreathtaking Dolce & Gabbana Cherry Print Corset Dress Details: A Dolce & Gabbana classic signature piece that will last you for years From the famous 1996 collection The cherry pr...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- UNWORN Missoni Metallic Lurex Crochet Knit Evening Dress Gown with Cardigan 42By MissoniLocated in Switzerland, CHUNIQUE & LUXURIOUS MISSONI METALLIC GOLD LUREX EVENING GOWN DETAILS: Beautiful gold lurex MISSONI gown MISSONI main line Classic MISSONI signature knit A fantasti...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Gowns
- CHANEL Signature Monochrome Silk Print Asymmetric Wrap Style Dress 38By ChanelLocated in Switzerland, CHA classic CHANEL signature piece Asymmetric dress Finest silk with a timeless monochrome print Discreetly signed with „CHANEL“ Pleated details on shoulders Simply slips on, closes wi...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Amazing VERSACE Strapless Beaded Goddess Evening Wedding Bridal Gown Dress 42By VersaceLocated in Switzerland, CHINCREDIBLE VERSACE GRECIAN GODDESS WHITE SILK BEADED EVENING GOWN Gorgeous off-white evening gown inspired by the Grecian goddesses by VE...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wedding Dresses
- Linda Cunningham Taupe Silk Gown w/ Multi Floral Lace & 3 Tier Ruffle Bust - 10Located in West Palm Beach, FLLinda Cunningham Taupe Silk Gown w/ Multi Floral Lace & 3 Tier Ruffle Bust - 10. This gorgeous gown is in excellent condition. It features a taupe silk material, three tier ruffle ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Gowns
- Black and white asymmetrical drape cocktail dress GivenchyBy GivenchyLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack and white asymmetrical drape cocktail dress. Fabric: crêpe ( rayon and acetate) Lining: 49% rayon, 51% cupro Boned. Zip and hook&eye in the middle back. Gold piping on the wai...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Black & white backless polka-dots evening dress Roger Milot for Fred PerlberqBy Fred PerlbergLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack & white backless polka-dots evening dress . The black dots are in felt. Black bow organza in the middle front. Zip in the middle back and hook&eye. Hook&eye behind the neck. Wh...Category
1960s American Evening Dresses
- White evening backless dress with pearls behind the neck Torrente Robe du SoirBy TORRENTELocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRWhite evening backless dress with pearls behind the neck. Small pleated on bust and waist. Fabric composition: 65% rayon, 35% polyamide. Lining : acetate or rayon. Zip in the middl...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses
- Black sequin and white satin evening dress Mollie Parnis BoutiqueLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRBlack sequin and white satin evening dress. No fabric tag but probably polyester. Zip and hook&eye in the middle back. Col Claudine. See-through sleeves. SIZE MCategory
Late 20th Century American Evening Dresses
- Anthony Vaccarello F/W 2014 Runway Leather Metal Mesh Cutout Mini DressBy Anthony VaccarelloLocated in Naples, FLAnthony Vaccarello F/W 2014 Runway Leather and Metal Mesh Cutout Mini Dress Size FR 36 Black Anthony Vaccarello leather strapless mini dress with silver-tone metal mesh ruffle trim...Category
2010s Evening Dresses and Gowns