Vintage Gucci Aviator Sunglasses 1990's Made in Italy
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Style:vintage (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:North Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:
Tom Ford for Gucci
No one understands sex appeal quite like Tom Ford, who joined Gucci as a womens-wear designer in 1990.
At the time, the internationally renowned Italian label was better known for leather goods than luxury fashion. It was also nearly bankrupt. After creative director Dawn Mello left in 1994, following a Bahrain-based investment group becoming Gucci’s majority shareholder, Ford was named creative director. The American designer soon infused the brand with a fresh sensuality and bold style.
Ford's potent vision of sexed-up femininity spanned everything from shirts to shoes to handbags and other accessories at Gucci — he reimagined the house's iconic double-ring-and-bar Horsebit hardware, a reference to the brand’s equestrian history, as a seductive low-slung belt, worn by Madonna when accepting an MTV video music award in 1995. For his fall show during that year, in which Kate Moss walked down the runway in an unbuttoned satin shirt, velvet hip-huggers and tousled hair, heralded an exciting, glammed-up era for the once fusty brand. Vogue critic Sarah Mower called it “one of those hitting-in-the-solar-plexus moments.”
As Ford shot to fame, he continued to explore plunging necklines, such as in the black and white looks of the Fall 1996 collection, and sumptuous fabrics like leather and tweed, with the Fall 2000 ready-to-wear collection ranging from sultry silk evening dresses to plush belted coats.
Ford also cranked up the seduction in the provocative ads for Gucci, particularly with regard to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, which the fashion house acquired in 1999 (Ford was also named creative director for YSL and designed the brand’s ready-to-wear collection). Gucci's Fall/Winter 1997 campaign featured Carolyn Murphy grasping Angela Lindvall in what looked like a video still; in another shot, a face pressed against a foot in a lipstick-red heel. Each promoted a vision of modern fashion where women were sexually confident, the materials were luxurious and the styles were fearless.
In 2004, Ford and Gucci president Domenico De Sole left the company after failing to agree on the renewal of their contracts. In 2006, with De Sole as chairman, Ford launched his wildly successful eponymous menswear label. Today Ford is also an author, film director and chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Find vintage Tom Ford Gucci day dresses, jackets and shoulder bags on 1stDibs.
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: North Hollywood, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Alfred Dunhill 24K Gold Plated Lighter Florentine Pattern Switzerland 1980By Dunhill, Alfred DunhillLocated in North Hollywood, CARare Vintage Iconic Alfred Dunhill Gold Plated Lighter made in Switzerland.This beautiful Dunhill Rollagas 24k Gold Plated Florentine Pattern Li...Category
Late 20th Century English For The Desk
- Vintage Faconnable EyeglassesLocated in North Hollywood, CAVintage Faconnable eyeglasses. Vintage glasses Faconnable circa 1980s Glasses are delivered without a case. Have an optician adjust your glasses correctly so that they fit well. New ...Category
1980s Italian Sunglasses
- 1990s Cartier Vintage Sunglasses Black with Silver LogoBy CartierLocated in North Hollywood, CAVintage Cartier classic black sunglasses with silver CC logo. Classic, timeless, sophisticated piece to add to your wardrobe Authentic, vintage, rare, Cartier Paris France Black Jackie O. Sunglasses Original 1990s Cartier sunglasses features black frame, both arms sport the CC from Cartier iconic logo signature temple adornment. These are like a pair of jewels on your nose. Beautiful design and a real sign of the times. Designed and produced in the 90's limited edition. Description: Classic vintage Cartier black resin sunglasses. Comes with original case. Period: 1990s Condition: Good, may show minor sign of wear due to age. All hallmarks. Classic sunglasses...Category
20th Century French Sunglasses
- Vintage Eyeglasses Police Titanium BlackBy PoliceLocated in North Hollywood, CAVintage Police eyeglasses titanium black. Circa 1980s. Made in France. Glasses are delivered without a case. Have an optician adjust your eyeglasses cor...Category
Early 2000s Italian Sunglasses
- Vintage Collectible Jewelry Ethnic Indian Necklace FramedLocated in North Hollywood, CACollectible Jewelry Ethnic Indian necklace framed; Vintage antique ethnic tribal old silver jewelry necklace Pendant Rajasthan India. This Indian necklace is inspired by an antique Rajasthani Mughal jewelry...Category
20th Century Indian Decorative Mounted Boxes
- Vintage Ethnic Moroccan Wedding Berber ShawlLocated in North Hollywood, CALarge vintage original tribal Moroccan white and silver wedding Berber women shawl, blanket. The Zaiane ethnic shawls incorporate quantities of sequins i...Category
20th Century Moroccan Textiles and Quilts
- Lemaire Enamel Opera GlassesLocated in New York, NYLemaire Enamel Opera Glasses made in Paris circa 1930's with hand enamel painted 18th Century figures with a cupid on handle. Extremely beautifully painted...Category
1920s French Decorative Objects
- Vintage Anglo American Eyewear - BICYCLEBy Anglo American OpticalLocated in HOUTEN, NLThe model BICYCLE is made by Anglo American Eyewear. The company was voted best designers of Sunglasses and Spectacle frames in 1993. All glasses are h...Category
1980s English Sunglasses
- Balmain, Oversized red sunglassesBy BalmainLocated in AMSTERDAM, NLBalmain, Oversized Red Sunglasses. This item is in very good condition and comes with box and dust cover. • CONDITION: very good condition • MEASUREME...Category
2010s Sunglasses
- Sting vintage sunglasses polarized, ItalyBy De rigo, StingLocated in Santa Clarita, CASting is an iconic, world-class singer and performer. In the 80's, his design, along with the police brand which was his as well, captured the imagination of stylistic young people. ...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- Dior 0210s Heart Core Palladium Shield SunglassesBy Christian DiorLocated in Montreal, QuebecChristian Dior Shield Sunglasses Silver Acetate Rimless Tinted Lenses Includes Case & Dust Cloth Color: Gun metal Item Code: 0210S Si...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Sunglasses
- New Vintage Cazal 855 Translucent Frame Collectors Item 1980's SunglassesBy CazalLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Cazal Collectors Item Translucent With Colours Accents Frame. Mono Blue Gradient Lenses With Light Wear Due To Storage. Made In Germany. Measurements Front : 13 Cms...Category
1970s German Sunglasses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.