Gianni Versace Couture Silk Pant Suit with Cut outs 1990s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (EU)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Hip: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU51111400762
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: Water Mill, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Alexander McQueen New Elaborately Seamed Jacket and Pants A/W 1999By Alexander McQueenLocated in Water Mill, NYAn incredible mid weight black linen jacket and pant set from Alexander McQueen. The jacket has a stand up collar, long sleeves and an elaborate pa...Category
1990s Italian Trouser Pant Suits
- Gianni Versace Leather Motorcycle Jacket and Skirt A/W 1994By Gianni VersaceLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous 2 piece black leather motorcycle jacket with matching skirt set from Gianni Versace's FW 1994 collection which are becoming increasingly...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- John Galliano New Runway Skirt Suit with Elaborate Detail 1990sBy John GallianoLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous black wool suit with a twist by John Galliano. It consist of a hip length single breasted jacket with small lapels and beautiful detail at the upper jacket including the ...Category
1990s French Skirt Suits
- Alexander McQueen New Cashmere Popped Lapel Collar Jacket and Skirt A/W 1999By Alexander McQueenLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black cashmere blend skirt and jacket with a dramatic stand up collar from Alexander McQueen. The double breasted jacket has a stand up lapel collar which frames the face beautifully, hip flap pockets and full long sleeves. The black straight skirt has an off white waist...Category
1990s Italian Skirt Suits
- Gianni Versace A/W 1992 Leather Motorcycle Jacket and Pants With Chain TrimBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous 2 piece supple black leather motorcycle jacket and pant set from Gianni Versace's A/W 1992 Collection. The jacket is motorcycle style wi...Category
1990s Italian Trouser Pant Suits
- Comme des Garcons AD 2002 Bondage Top and JacketBy Junya Watanabe, Comme des GarçonsLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous black fine cotton 2 piece set consisting of a sleeveless top and matching jacket from Junya Watanabe for Comme des Garcons. The sleeves top has a crew neckline and a confi...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Jackets
- 1980s Vintage Lillie Rubin Polka Dot Sequin Shorts & Zip Sweatshirt Suit Set MedBy Lillie RubinLocated in Portland, ORThis is a show stopping vintage 1980's Lillie Rubin short set that includes a pair of elastic waist shorts and a sweatshirt style zip front jacket. The base color of both pieces is black and the jacket has sequin polka dots in bold shades of yellow, green, red, and purple. The set is fully lined in black silk. The zip front sweatshirt style jacket has long raglan oversized sleeves, pockets, a mandarin style short collar and a metal zipper down the center front seam for closure. The cuffs and collar are in a rayon lined stretch fabric. The rayon lined shorts have pockets, front pleats and a back elastic waistband. There is a wide hook and eye closure in the center front opening with a metal zipper. Wear this outfit as a fun evening dress alternative with the right shoes or boots! We have two sets of this amazing vintage Lillie Rubin silk sequin short sets available on 1stdibs! They came from an estate and were worn as matching ensembles...Category
1980s Indian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- John Galliano brown tartan wool and silk jacket and skirt suit, fw 2001By John GallianoLocated in London, GB▪ John Galliano brown tartan wool skirt suit ▪ Brown, black, yellow and red tartan ▪ Doubled breasted jacket with nipped waist ▪ Large metal buttons with red contrast stitch ▪ Ma...Category
Early 2000s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- A Navy & White Organza Skirt Suit by Claude Montana - French Circa 1980By Claude MontanaLocated in Toulon, FRCirca 1980 France Skirt suit and jacket by French designer Claude Montana. Label is white with Claude Montana Paris Made in Italy written in gold. Made of blue navy linen and white borders in cotton. 3/4 sleeves with wide shoulders...Category
1980s French Skirt Suits
- Chanel Jacket and Skirt Suit in Black Wool With Silk Lining Cruise Resort 1996By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Portland, ORThis is a wonderful vintage black wool Chanel suit designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the 1996 Cruise / Resort collection. The outfit includes a skirt and a double breasted jacket with an interesting connecting piece of fabric that crosses over at the collar bone...Category
1990s French Skirt Suits
- Michael Casey Couture Vintage Sculptural 3-Piece Skirt Suit EnsembleBy Michael CaseyLocated in Sparks, NVPhenomenal 3-piece skirt suit by Michael Casey. This ensemble features a cropped bolero jacket, a sculptural peplum bodice with decorative buttons up the front, and a pencil skirt th...Category
1980s American Skirt Suits
- Christian Dior by John Galliano blue denim cropped jacket and skirt set, ss 2000By John Galliano for Christian Dior, Christian DiorLocated in London, GB▪ Christian Dior indigo blue denim jacket and skirt 2 piece set ▪ Designed by John Galliano ▪ Cropped denim jacket ▪ Bias cut skirt with asymmetric waistline and hemline ▪ Gold log...Category
Early 2000s French Skirt Suits