S/S 1994 Gianni Versace Safety Pin Cut Out Black Leather Mini Runway Backpack
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)Length: 21 in (53.34 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear from age and use including bending to leather, scratches to hardware, and markings at interior.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388214287112
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 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Black GG Monogram Baby Carrier Vintage Y2KBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare baby carrier designed by Tom Ford for Gucci, released as part of the Fall/Winter 2000 collection. Silverplated buckle closures at the front and clips in the back ma...Category
Early 2000s Italian Other
- 2000s Gucci by Tom Ford Mini Black Silk Satin Square Chain Logo Evening Bag Y2KBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a mini satin Gucci evening bag, designed by Tom Ford. This small square bag is constructed of black satin and features a silver-toned chai...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Green Beaded Snake Skin Print Chain BagBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful green beaded snakeskin pattern Gucci bag designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 2000 collection, this fabulous flap bag is covered in shimmery beads. A similar bag was highlighted in the March 2000 issue of U.S. Vogue captured by Raymond Meier...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
- NWT S/S 2001 Atelier Versace by Donatella Versace Pink Satin and Wicker BagBy Donatella Versace, Atelier VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an incredible pink wicker Atelier Versace bag, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Haute Couture collection, this bag debuted on the season'...Category
Early 2000s Italian Top Handle Bags
- 2000s Gucci by Tom Ford Black 'GG' Monogram Wrap Pouch BraceletBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black Gucci 'GG' monogram pouch cuff, designed by Tom Ford. From the early 2000s, this zip bracelet features a velcro closure and zip pocket just big enough to hold the ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Novelty Bags
- S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford Mini Black Silk Satin Waist BagBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a petite black satin Gucci waist bag, designed by Tom Ford. From the Spring/Summer 2001 collection, this petite bag is crafted entirely from lustrous black satin. Versatil...Category
Early 2000s Italian Novelty Bags
- Chanel Vintage 1992 Drawstring CC Rucksack Black Caviar Leather BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Caviar 1990s CC Drawstring Rucksack The backpack features gold Chanel CC logos along the bottom trim, gold hardware and two lengthy leather shoulder straps. The flap...Category
1990s Italian Backpacks
- Chanel Vintage Rare Mini Mesh Sport Gym Black Microfiber Nylon BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLSmall Chanel black mesh microfiber backpack with Chanel logo straps and top handle strap 2003 {VINTAGE 19 Years} Silver hardware Magnetic closure R...Category
Early 2000s Italian Backpacks
- Chanel 2005 Vintage Rare Black Nylon Coco Niege Sport Duma Clasic Flap BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 2005 Vintage Rare Black Nylon Coco Niege Sport Duma Clasic Flap Backpack Year: 2005-2006 {19 Years Vintage} Silver hardware Quilted nylon in classic flap style Sports Line f...Category
Early 2000s Italian Backpacks
- Chanel Quilted Vintage 1994 Micro Mini Rucksack Black Duma Leather BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1994 Vintage Quilted Lambskin Duma Micro Mini Backpack Rucksack Production Year: 1994, {Vintage 28 Years} Black quilted lambskin leather On...Category
1990s French Backpacks
- Chanel 1994 Vintage Diamond Quilted Drawstring Bucket Backpack Rucksack BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1994 Diamond Quilted Drawstring Backpack Featuring gold-tone hardware, a diamond quilted finish, an internal logo stamp, adjustable shoulder straps, an internal zipped pocket...Category
1990s Italian Backpacks
- Chanel Drawstring Vintage 1990s Cc Rucksack Black Caviar Leather BackpackBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Caviar 1990s CC Drawstring Rucksack The backpack features gold Chanel CC logos along the bottom trim, gold hardware and two lengthy leather shoulder straps. The flap...Category
1990s Italian Backpacks