Gianni Versace Early 1990s Couture white “ocean” silk print blazer
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 29 in (73.66 cm)Marked Size: 42 (EU)Bust: 19 in (48.26 cm)Waist: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Milano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3592219727572
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: Milano, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Jean Paul Gaultier F/W 1992/93 ‘Fanatics of Photography’ jacquard faces jacketBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Milano, IT- Jean Paul Gaultier Runway Gray Jacquard faces jacket - Sold by Skof.Archive - Fall-Winter 1992/93 - Cotton double breasted metal buttons closure - Fully lined with man bust print...Category
1990s Italian Blazers
- Thierry Mugler Couture F/W 2001 Grey silver cheetah silk jacketBy Thierry Mugler CoutureLocated in Milano, IT- Thierry Mugler Couture grey silk cheetah jacket - Sold by Skof.Archive - Shoulder pads - Hidden snap closure along the front - Fitted to the body -...Category
Early 2000s French Blazers
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld F/W 2001 Dove gray and white zip-up sport jacketBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in Milano, IT- Chanel Identification grey and white sport jacket - Sold by Skof.Archive - Designed by Karl Lagerfeld - Fall-Winter 2001 Collection - Classic collar - Frontal zipper closure ...Category
Early 2000s French Jackets
- Vivienne Westwood F/W 1988/89 ‘Time Machine’ Green striped Armour jacketBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in Milano, IT- Rare Vintage Vivienne Westwood green striped Armour Jacket - Sold by Skof.Archive - Fall-Winter 1988/89 ‘Time Machine’ Collection - Tailored waistcoat-cut main body with two lin...Category
1980s English Blazers
- Roberto Cavalli F/W 1999 Tan suede topBy Roberto CavalliLocated in Milano, IT- Roberto Cavalli open front top - Sold by Skof.Archive - Tan suede - Open front with leather lace-up fastenings - Snake bronze plated button cuffs closure - Fall Winter 1999 - Mad...Category
1990s Italian Jackets
- Comme des Garçons Off white "Broken Bride" wedding blazer, fw 2005By Comme des GarçonsLocated in Milano, IT- Runway look 07 - Sold by Skof.Archive - Off white structured blazer - Single-breasted button - Cropped jacket - Made in Japan - Fall Winter 2005 - Irregular sleeves w...Category
Early 2000s French Cropped Jackets
- Alexander McQueen white patchwork rabbit and fox fur embroidered jacket, fw 2003By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GB▪ Alexander McQueen white patchwork rabbit and fox fur jacket ▪ Fox fur trim at the hood, cuffs, and waist ▪ Bronze metal sequin embroidery throughout ▪ Large hood ▪ Zip fastening at the center-front ▪ IT 44 - FR 40 - UK 12 ▪ 100% Rabbit, 100% Fox Lining...Category
Early 2000s Italian Jackets
- HERMES cream white suede leather CROPPED BOMBER Jacket 42 LBy HermèsLocated in Zürich, CHHermes cropped bomber jacket in off-white lambskin suede and pale rose cotton (100%). With ribbed details and two pockets on the front. Closes with double-...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- CHANEL pink silk 2017 PARIS CUBA Blazer Jacket 46 XXL 17CBy ChanelLocated in Zürich, CHauthentic Chanel 'Paris-Cuba' peak-collar blazer in baby pink silk duping (100%). With two flap pockets on the front, back slit, signature chain around the inside of the hemline, and...Category
Early 2000s Tuxedo Jackets
- LORO PIANA cream white silk & cotton DOUBLE BREASTED KNIT Blazer Jacket 38 XSBy Loro PianaLocated in Zürich, CHLoro Piana double breasted knit blazer in cream silk (55%) and cotton (45%) with two front slip pockets. Closes on the front with buttons. Unlined. Has been worn and is in excellent ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Jackets
- ALEXANDER MCQUEEN pink DISTRESSED LEATHER BIKER Jacket 40 SBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Zürich, CH100% authentic Alexander McQueen biker jacket in pale rose distressed leather (100%) with notch collar, three zipper pockets on the fron...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Jackets
- Avant Garde 1980s Gene Ewing 3pc Vintage Skirt Sequin Top & Oversized JacketBy Gene EwingLocated in Portland, ORThis outstanding vintage avant garde Gene Ewing ensemble came from an estate we acquired that included some of the best designers from the 1970's and 1980's. This outfit has the rare...Category
1980s American Skirt Suits