F/W 1994 Gianni Versace Gold Lame Lurex Pleated Tinsel Mini Tent Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT38 (EU)Bust: 32 in (81.28 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear and shedding of gold tinsel throughout. Fabric tag removed.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388213450662
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.
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Sheer Black Lace Backless Camel Mini DressBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a flirty backless halter top dress designed by Donatella for Gianni Versace Couture. The black cut-out lace pattern debuted on similar dresses in the men's Fall/Winter 200...Category
Early 2000s Italian Mini Dress
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Psychedelic Print Sheer Strapless DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a psychedelic print quilted strapless Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. This gorgeous dress debuted on the Fall/Winter 2002 runway as look numbe...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Sheer Pop Art Print Strapless DressBy Donatella Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a pop art-inspired Gianni Versace dress designed by Donatella Versace. This strapless dress features a ruched bust with a tiered sheer mesh skirt...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2003 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Maroon Silk Ruffle Rive Gauche GownBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a maroon ruffle gown designed by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. For the Fall/Winter 2003 collection, Ford referenced some of the iconic 1940s inspired design...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Gowns
- S/S 1990 Norma Kamali Runway Green Ruched Stretch Flare Mini DressBy Norma KamaliLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a figure-hugging ruched flare dress designed by Norma Kamali for her Spring/Summer 1990 "Moon Motel" collection. This dress debuted in the season's runway presentation, wh...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Runway Gold Pink Lurex Metallic Sheer Dress Y2KBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a glittery disco-chic geometric gold lurex shift dress designed by Tom Ford for Gucci's Fall/Winter 2000 collection. Debuting as look 30 on Talytha Pugliesi, this piece is...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Michael Casey Silk Chiffon & Ivory Cut Velvet Strapless Gown - 10By Michael CaseyLocated in West Palm Beach, FLMichael Casey Silk Chiffon & Ivory Cut Velvet Strapless Gown - 10. This gorgeous gown is in excellent condition. It features a gorgeous ivory silk chiffon material, paneled velvet ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Evening Gowns
- Vilshenko black pink floral print silk puff sleeve mock neck maxi dress XS - SBy VilshenkoLocated in Paris, FRLOVE LALI Vintage Vilshenko black dress with pink, yellow and green floral print Button up neckline Mock neck Cinched waist Puff sleeves Loose tiered skirt Concealed back zip Attac...Category
2010s Maxi Dresses
- Etro Runway Sleeveless Black & Beige Jacquard Button Down Minidress/Vest Sz 42By EtroLocated in Paradise Island, BSThis Etro Fall 2019 Runway sleeveless black and beige jacquard slim fit button down mini dress / vest is made of blended wool and features two small flap pockets and buttons along th...Category
2010s Italian Mini Dress
- Thierry Mugler Couture taupe sleeveless plunging neck low cut silk midi dressBy Thierry Mugler CoutureLocated in Paris, FRThierry Mugler Couture sleeveless midi length dress in taupe Fitted upper with a flared skirt Stretch fabric A very low cut draped plunging neckline Double lined Size: No size labe...Category
1990s Unknown Cocktail Dresses
- Chloe brown strapless corset bustier layered chiffon satin maxi dress gown 36By ChloéLocated in Paris, FRLOVE LALI Vintage Please note that the model is 6 foot 1" / 185 cm and wearing very high heels - on someone shorter this dress would be much longer Chloe strapless bustier dress in...Category
2010s French Evening Dresses
- Bazaar of France Vivid Multicolor Abstract Cowl-Neck Cap-Sleeve Jersey DressLocated in New York, NYBazaar of France, vivid multicolor abstract dress accented with a cowl-neck front as well as cap-sleeves. The length measures 39 1/2 inches, bust measures 38 inches, waist mea...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses