1990s Gianni Versace Couture Black Silk Blouse w Gold and Maroon Botanical Print
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Toronto, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU228211546382
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. 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,” Versace once explained. Instead, he had a sexy good time with fashion — as he did with life. Today, vintage Gianni Versace clothing, handbags and other accessories look astonishingly fresh and freshly relevant.
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 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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Toronto, Canada
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- 1990s Giorgio Armani Black and Grey Velvet Paisley BlouseBy Giorgio ArmaniLocated in Toronto, OntarioBeautiful and bohemian 1990s Giorgio Armani blouse. Black, grey and blue velvet paisley all over. Loose trumpet shaped sleeves and a-line bodice create ...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- 1990s Chanel Navy Blue Silk Blouson TopBy ChanelLocated in Toronto, Ontario1990s Chanel navy blue silk blouson top. Crew neckline with flat pleated front. Oversized waistband and single flat pleat up centre back, covering the tiny...Category
1990s French Blouses and Tops
- 2000's Prada Black Jacket with Rhinestone FlowersBy PradaLocated in Toronto, OntarioBlack satin and wool Prada zip front jacket from the mid 2000's. The jacket features a black wool body and black silk 3/4 length sleeves with a folded cuff. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Shirts
- 1970s Krizia Wool Paisley BlouseBy KriziaLocated in Toronto, OntarioKrizia blouse from the late 1970s' Black wool with all over light brown paisley print. High split neckline, bishop sleeves and loose through the hips. Butto...Category
1970s Italian Blouses and Tops
- 1980's Yves Saint Laurent YSL Leopard Print Silk TankBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Toronto, Ontario1980's Yves Saint Laurent leopard print silk tank top. Simple wide strap tank has a scoop neck, and an allover leopard print in tan, amber and black. Excellent condition. Fits like a...Category
1980s French Tank Tops
- 1970s Ungaro Red Sequin TopBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in Toronto, OntarioEmanuel Ungaro 1970s red sequin top with black ribbing at the cuffs and hem. The fit is blouson, almost sweatshirt style, with a black stain trimmed yoke ...Category
1970s Italian Balloon Sleeve Blouses
- EMILIO PUCCI Teal Black Lace Print Sleeveless Silk Wrap Style Blouse Scarf BeltBy Emilio PucciLocated in Thiensville, WIEMILIO PUCCI Teal Black Lace Print Sleeveless Silk Wrap Style Blouse Scarf Belt Brand / Manufacturer: Emilio Pucci Style: Asymmetric sleeveless ruched top (wrap look) Color(s): Sh...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sleeveless Shirts
- Tom Ford for Gucci Runway Black Sheer Cut-Out Top Bustier Velvet Details It.38By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in Montgomery, TXTom Ford for Gucci Runway Black Sheer Top Bustier Designer size 38 Composition: 78% Cotton, 22% Spandex ( fabric very stretch ). Cut-Out Sexy Details, Black Sheer Beautifully Contras...Category
Early 2000s Italian Bustiers
- Alberta Ferretti 1990s Silk Chiffon Size 4 Printed Vintage 90s Cap Sleeve BlouseBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful vintage late 90s ALBERTA FERRETTI printed silk chiffon cap sleeve blouse / top ! Features grey, pink, purple, ivory and beige throughout. Hidden zipper up the back with hoo...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- TOM FORD for YVES SAINT LAURENT F/W 2001 Black Lace-Up Top size MBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Montgomery, TXTom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Cotton Lace-up Black Top Fall/Winter 2001 Collection Ready to Wear Top is detailed with adjustable lace-up in the front, back, sleeves and both armhol...Category
Early 2000s French Blouses and Tops
- 1950s Openwork Knit TopLocated in Alford, MA1950s top, the hip-length fitted body in black knit featuring an openwork yoke with cap sleeves and round neckline above. Four crystal buttons with loops at...Category
Mid-20th Century American Blouses and Tops
- Gianfranco Ferre 1990s Embellished BodysuitBy Gianfranco FerréLocated in Scottsdale, AZAdd this bodysuit to your collection! Circa 1990s, this black bodysuit features an overlapping G and F logo in black beads and rhinestones, thick spaghetti straps and mesh bottoms wi...Category
1990s Italian Bodysuits