S/S 1995 Gianni Versace Couture Silk Chiffon Drape Front Gown
View Similar Items
S/S 1995 Gianni Versace Couture Silk Chiffon Drape Front Gown
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 60.4 in (153.42 cm)Marked Size: 42 (EU)Bust: 32.4 in (82.3 cm)Waist: 28 in (71.12 cm)Hip: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Period:
- Condition:In very good vintage condition with wear throughout hardware; visually in excellent vintage condition.
- Seller Location:North Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3084220997952
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.
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.
- S/S 1992 Givenchy Haute Couture Deep Brown Strapless Gown with Embroidered BustBy GivenchyLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 1992 Givenchy Haute Couture deep brown strapless gown with embroidered sequin and raffia bustier by Maison Lesage. Bustier features brown geometric pattern throughout and 3D fili...Category
1990s Evening Dresses
- c. 1959 Jean Patou by Karl Lagerfeld Couture Strapless Blue Satin Evening GownBy Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Patou ParisLocated in North Hollywood, CAc. 1959 Jean Patou by Karl Lagerfeld Couture strapless blue satin evening sheath gown. Matching oversized fabric buttons and large bow at back. Subtle wrap-like effect at back with c...Category
1950s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- S/S 2000 Valentino Black Strapless Gown with Open BustBy ValentinoLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 2000 Valentino black strapless gown with open bust. Strapless gown with open bust paneling and open center drape wrap front. Built-in corset with boning at sides. Concealed side ...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- A/W 1991 Vivienne Westwood White and Gold Boulle Print GownBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in North Hollywood, CAA/W 1991 Vivienne Westwood pearl white and gold 'Boulle' print gown. Long white stretch gown with gold pressed Andre-Charles Boulle neoclassical print. Concealed back zip closure. Fa...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1968 Malcolm Starr Off-White Pleated Gown with Crystal Cutout WaistBy Malcolm StarrLocated in North Hollywood, CA1968 Malcolm Starr off-white silk chiffon pleated gown with empire waist and hand-beaded embellished cutout detail. Built-in corset with boning and back zip closure. As seen in Harpe...Category
1960s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- S/S 2007 Alexander McQueen (Lifetime) White Lace Off-Shoulder Gown with TrainBy Alexander McQueenLocated in North Hollywood, CAS/S 2007 Alexander McQueen white lace off-shoulder gown with tan silk chiffon lining. Trained gown with extreme high-low hemline (knee-length front hem and medium-length train), feat...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Michael Kors Collection Off White Ivory Size 2 / 4 Grommet Bell Sleeve DressBy Michael KorsLocated in San Diego, CAEarly 2000s vintage MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION off-white / ivory long bell sleeve grommet dress ! Features a tailored bodice with silver grommets aro...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
$1,000 Sale Price20% Off - 1960's white raw silk with colorfull scarf BH WraggeLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR1960's white raw silk with colorfull scarf.Rayon lining. SIZE LCategory
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- Ivory satin cocktail dress with black passementerie embellishment Circa 1950Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRIvory satin cocktail dress with black passementerie embellishment. No fabric composition tag but probably organza lining on the top part of the dress and acetate lining inside the sk...Category
1950s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2012 look #27 VERSACE WHITE STUDDED EMBELLISHED LEATHER DRESS 38 - 2By VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXVERSACE Actual runway sample Spring/Summer look # 27 (Has a minor sings of wear on the lining) Embellished Leather Dress Sleeveless Knee length Content: 100% leather armpi...Category
2010s Italian Casual Dresses
- Iconic 1989 Bob Mackie White Embroidered Beaded Grapevine Design GownBy Bob MackieLocated in Montgomery, TXThe same dress in gold color was worn by Sharon Stone in the 1995 film Casino. A white embroidered net gown with a beaded grapevine design, from the California Collection - a salute...Category
1990s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Donald Brooks Size 0 Ivory Off - White 3/4 Sleeves Vintage 70s Crepe DressBy Donald BrooksLocated in San Diego, CAChic early 70s DONALD BROOKS ivory off-white 3/4 sleeves crepe dress ! Features a tailored bodice, with a Grecian inspired waistband. Hidden zipper up the back with fabric covered bu...Category
1970s American Cocktail Dresses