Vintage Gianni Versace Abstract Baroque Print Wool Pullover Sweater
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: See description (NA)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:
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: Beaverton, OR
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Sonia Rykiel Vintage Sweater With Sequins & Peek A Boo Sleeves Made in FranceBy Sonia RykielLocated in Portland, ORThis is an outstanding vintage black sweater from Sonia Rykiel. The statement raglan sleeves have zig zag or criss cross sequins that reveal jus...Category
1980s French Pullovers
- 1980s Vintage Black Wool Sweater With Rhinestone X Novelty DesignLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage 1980's fine black merino wool knit sweater with strands of rhinestones forming X's on rhinestone rivets on the front. This would be a great holiday or special event sweater! The sweater has a mock turtleneck, slight shoulder pads, long sleeves with ribbed cuffs and a ribbed waist band. The label has been removed but it is beautifully made. We estimate it to be a modern day size 8/10, but please use the measurements as a guide. The owner of this sweater had a huge collection of Sonia Rykiel, Issey Miyake, Michele Lamy, Comme des Garcon and Yamamoto. We loved handling...Category
1980s Unknown Pullovers
- Sonia Rykiel Vintage Pink & Black Wool Bow Sweater TopBy Sonia RykielLocated in Portland, ORVintage Sonia Rykiel tops and sweaters are so essential to add to any vintage collector's wardrobe! If you are wanting something that not only is historically significant, but can be seamlessly added to a modern wardrobe, this is the perfect piece for you! Sonia Rykiel began her career with a sweater and continued to design them throughout her career. This one is so much fun in a magenta pink and black stripe wool. The top has a button closure at collar hidden by a pretty black wool bow, raglan type sleeves, and sewn in shoulder pads for just the right amount of structure. The ribbed waistband has an attached tie and the label reads;Sonia Rykiel Paris Made in Italy. There is also a U Chicago store...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- Vintage Jean Charles de Castelbajac Blue Striped Red Apple Cardigan SweaterBy Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, JC DE CASTELBAJACLocated in Portland, ORThis is a great vintage 1980s JC De Castelbajac vintage cardigan sweater in blue tonal horizontal stripes with red striped trim and a red app...Category
1980s Italian Cardigans
- Chanel Cashmere Blend Textured Beaded Green Pullover 2010 Runway SweaterBy Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Portland, ORThis is a Pre-Fall 2010 Chanel pullover sweater top in a gorgeous green stretch cashmere blend. The sweater has a round neck and is accented with brick red beads. The collar, cuffs, ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pullovers
- Valentino 2pc Vintage Long Sleeve Top & Cardigan Sweater in Blue & Green PlaidBy ValentinoLocated in Portland, ORWe absolutely love this sweater top and cardigan ensemble from Valentino Boutique.Entirely knit, even though the cardigan looks like a blazer or a jacket. The button front cardigan ...Category
1980s Italian Cardigans
- Azzedine Alaia black laser cut boiled wool fringed tunic, fw 1993By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBAzzedine Alaia black laser cut boiled wool fringed tunic. Fall-Winter 1993Category
1990s French Sweaters
- Jil Sander oversized ribbed chunky knit cropped cashmere turtle neck sweaterBy Jil SanderLocated in Paris, FRJil Sander black oversized cropped roll neck sweater Chunky knit Composition: The composition label is faded, but I believe it reads cashmere/wool Size: IT 40 In excellent conditi...Category
2010s Italian Pullovers
- 1987 Hermès 150th Anniversary Limited Edition Firework Print Silk ShirtBy HermèsLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a rare Hermès limited edition printed silk collared shirt with woven-knit trim. Artist Michel Duchêne created this spectacular limited edition design to celebrate the 150t...Category
1980s French Pullovers
- F/W 1998 Gucci by Tom Ford Double Buckle Black Knit Wool Cardigan TopBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting an open black knit Gucci cardigan, designed by Tom Ford. From the Fall/Winter 1998 collection, this incredible cardigan features two closures at the front, each marked 'Gucci', which tactfully leave the sweater slightly open. The sweater is made complete with diagonal perforated stripe details at the front. A rare piece of early Gucci...Category
1990s Italian Cardigans
- Late 1990s Gianni Versace by Donatella Sequin Fishnet Stretch Knit Sweater TopBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black wide knit Gianni Versace sweater, designed by Donatella Versace. From the late 1990s, this fabulous top features a fishnet-like knit...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers
- 1990s Gianni Versace Black White Cheetah Print Stretch Knit Sweater TopBy Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a black and white cheetah print Gianni Versace sweater, designed by Gianni Versace. From the 1990s, this beautiful sweater is covered in bla...Category
1990s Italian Pullovers