S/S 1995 Gianni Versace Couture Light Orange Yellow Flare Strapless Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40IT/6US (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear throughout.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388219105002
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.
- F/W 2001 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Velvet Ribbon DressBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a timeless Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche little black dress, designed by Tom Ford. From the Fall/Winter 2001 collection, this stunning midi dress in black features a fitt...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Abstract Print Viscose V-Neck DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a slinky printed viscose dress designed by Tom Ford for Gucci. This dress features three-quarter length sleeves, a v-neckline, and one of the signature S/S 2000 Gucci prin...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- S/S 1991 Atelier Versace by Gianni Versace Grecian Tunic Two Piece Dress SetBy Atelier Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning Atelier Versace dress set from the S/S 1991 collection, designed by Gianni Versace. This extraordinary piece can be seen on the season's haute couture runway. C...Category
1990s Italian Greek Style Dresses
- S/S 1992 Dolce & Gabbana Stretch Cut Out Ruched DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a gorgeous black formfitting Dolce and Gabbana mini dress. From the Spring/Summer 1992 collection, this sexy wrap effect dress ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2003 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Black Floral Applique Runway DressBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a flirty Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fit and flare dress designed by Tom Ford for the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, debuting on the runway at look number 28 on Ujjwala...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2005 Roberto Cavalli Rhinestone Ruched Bodycon Stretch Black Halter GownBy Roberto CavalliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous black Roberto Cavalli slinky gown. From the Spring/Summer 2005 collection, this full-length dress features a halter neck and rhinesto...Category
Early 2000s Italian Maxi Dresses
- Vicky Tiel Eggplant Pleated Taffeta and Lace Dress - 46 - 1980'sBy Vicky TielLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis Vicky Tiel dress is a stunning vintage piece with pleated silk taffeta on the skirt and sleeves. The bodice has lace and the bust has ruched fabric. The dress also has boning on...Category
1980s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Chanel Orange Sequin-Detailing Tweed Sleeveless DressBy ChanelLocated in Paris, FRChanel orange sequin-detailing tweed sleeveless dress featuring sequin detailing, concealed rear zip fastening, a round neck, cap sleeves, two front patch pockets and a thigh-length....Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- Hanae Mori Calligraphic Print GownBy Hanae MoriLocated in New York, NYHanae Mori calligraphic print gown in graphic black and white semi sheer georgette. One piece gown with tucked bib and button placket at...Category
1990s Japanese Maxi Dresses
- Balenciaga By Ghesquiere Black Peplum Coat DressBy BalenciagaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière black coat dress featuring a high collar, ruffle insets in the bod...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- NEW ALEXANDER McQueen GREEN EVENING DRESS size 40 - 4By Alexander McQueenLocated in Montgomery, TXAlexander McQueen Emerald green glass beaded long dress Content: 100% silk Back zipper Sleeveless Back slit Size 40 - 4 (S) Length 63" Bust 35...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Balenciaga by Ghesquiere Black Cocktail Mini Dress 2007By BalenciagaLocated in Los Angeles, CAResurrection Vintage is excited to offer a vintage Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere black viscose cocktail dress featuring an empire waistline, drape ...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns