1990s Gianni Versace Couture Lavender Heart Shape Crossbody & Evening Clutch
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)Diameter: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Length: 27 in (68.58 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:This bag is constructed of soft purple leather on a hard clamshell body. The leather is embroidered with a beaded diamond pattern with fabric flowers throughout. Chrome metal elements at top/bottom.
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Gently used very few signs of use. Light tarnishing of metal accents, small marks at interior. Dark areas from the original glue throughout.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388213428562
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.
- 1980s Gucci Grey Suede Convertible Cross Crossbody Hard ShellBy GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous grey suede hardshell Gucci convertible crossbody bag. From the 1980s, this clam shell style bag is constructed in a light grey suede contrasted with a darker grey leather at the closure, strap, and flap. The crossbody strap can be removed to use the bag as a clutch. A rare vintage Gucci bag...Category
1980s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace Python Blue Convertible Evening Bag & Clutch DonatellaBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAThis stunning, convertible Versace clutch in dyed blue python is intricately studded to form a classic Greek key motif along the borders. Front and cent...Category
Early 2000s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- S/S 2001 Gucci by Tom Ford Purple Alligator Wristlet Zip Wallet ClutchBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a striking alligator wristlet clutch designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Spring/Summer 2001 collection. The rich purple color was heavily featured in the season's runway pres...Category
Early 2000s Italian Wallets and Small Accessories
- S/S 2002 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Pierced Leather Safari ClutchBy Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a pierced leather Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche clutch, designed by Tom Ford. This bag is made of deep brown leather with aged bronze piercing accents. This collection is...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Denim Medusa Jewel ClutchBy Donatella Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting This stunning Versace clutch in dark denim with a mirrored gold medusa plaque accents the snap closure and multicolored rhinestone near the lining. Donatella designed this clutch for the Gianni Versace S/S 2000 collection and prominently featured the blue version in that season's ad campaign with Amber Valletta. British Vogue featured this blue python variation in a 1999 editorial spread by Raymond Meier...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- S/S 2000 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Gold Abstract Rhinestone ConvertibleBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a fabulous tan suede gold rhinestone Gianni Versace convertible clutch, designed by Donatella Versace. Make a bold statement with this amazing Gianni Versace convertible c...Category
Early 2000s Italian Clutches
- Hermes Cinhetic To Go Wallet Mauve S Bag Clutch Crossbody Chamkila Mysore ChevreBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers a guaranteed authentic Hermes Cinhetic To Go Wallet clutch / shoulder/ crossbody bag. Exquisite Mauve Sylvestre in coveted Chamkila My...Category
2010s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Judith Leiber Tan Karung Snake Handbag with Stone Buckle Front.By Judith LeiberLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJudith Leiber Tan Karung Snake Handbag Clutch with Stone Buckle Front. A beautiful piece by the talented Judith Leiber, this karung snake clutch/handbag ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Hungarian Clutches
- Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessories Epi 24 Yellow Leather Crossbody BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Freehold, NJPre-Owned 100% Authentic LOUIS VUITTON Pochette Accessories 24 Yellow Epi Leather Added Strap to make a Crossbody RATING: B-...Good...Category
Early 2000s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Elegant Black Woven Crossbody BagLocated in Carlsbad, CAThe Brielle is a classic flap bag with a plush felt woven through the chain for a softer and more elegant look. Crossbody is pictured with removable charm; not included in purchase!...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Beige & White Woven Crossbody Flap Bag on CainLocated in Carlsbad, CAThe Brielle is a classic flap bag with a plush felt woven through the chain for a softer and more elegant look. DESCRIPTION Fold-over flap with turn-lock closure Tweed w/fringed edge...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Blue Love Woven Crossbody BagLocated in Carlsbad, CADESCRIPTION Beaded letters on exterior Dual zipper closure Single top handle Removable woven faux leather chain strap Double compartment interior Interior zippered pocket Measureme...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags