F/W 1999 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Sheer White Chenille Beaded Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: IT42 / US8 (EU)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Hip: 44 in (111.76 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light wear from age and use throughout, fabric tag removed.
- Seller Location:West Hollywood, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2388216702582
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.
- S/S 1997 Gucci by Tom Ford Brown Lurex Metallic Stretch Strapless Tube DressBy Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a mid-length dark copper metallic tube dress designed by Tom Ford for Gucci. This dress debuted on none other than Naomi Campbell as the finale of the Spring/Summer 1997 r...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- F/W 2001 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Velvet Ribbon DressBy Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a timeless Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche little black dress, designed by Tom Ford. From the Fall/Winter 2001 collection, this stunning midi dress in black features a fitt...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Abstract Print Viscose V-Neck DressBy Tom Ford for Gucci, GucciLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a slinky printed viscose dress designed by Tom Ford for Gucci. This dress features three-quarter length sleeves, a v-neckline, and one of the signature S/S 2000 Gucci prin...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- S/S 1991 Atelier Versace by Gianni Versace Grecian Tunic Two Piece Dress SetBy Atelier Versace, Gianni VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a stunning Atelier Versace dress set from the S/S 1991 collection, designed by Gianni Versace. This extraordinary piece can be seen on the season's haute couture runway. C...Category
1990s Italian Greek Style Dresses
- S/S 1992 Dolce & Gabbana Stretch Cut Out Ruched DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a gorgeous black formfitting Dolce and Gabbana mini dress. From the Spring/Summer 1992 collection, this sexy wrap effect dress ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2003 Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Black Floral Applique Runway DressBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a flirty Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche fit and flare dress designed by Tom Ford for the Spring/Summer 2003 collection, debuting on the runway at look number 28 on Ujjwala...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1968 Gucci Couture Cotton-Pique Striped Ivory Pink Mod Mini Tunic DressBy GucciLocated in Beverly Hills, CAEarlier Gucci garments are very hard to come by and this mini dress is breathtaking. As shown, this design from their 1968 collection came in logo, floral ...Category
1960s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Vintage 1978 Yves Saint Laurent YSL Haute Couture Ivory Print Silk Dress & ShawlBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Beverly Hills, CABreathtaking Yves Saint Laurent designer dress ensemble from his 1978 Spring/Summer collection. Such a rarity to find all three pieces togeth...Category
1970s French Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Vintage 1978 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Ivory Red Print Silk Dress & ShawlBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGorgeous Yves Saint Laurent ivory dotted red-clover print silk dress ensemble from his 1978 spring/summer collection. Such a rarity to find all three pieces together! The dress is so chic with the shoulder buttons and short puff-sleeves. I adore the matching ruffle-trim shawl wrap which is a stunning statement piece on it's own. The flattering nipped waist sash...Category
1970s French Aesthetic Day Dresses
- 1960s White Sheer Embellished Cocktail DressLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1960s Sheer white netting sheath cocktail dress embellished with multi color beads in floral pattern. Size Medium- Large Measurement: Bust : 38” / W: 36”...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage Geoffrey Beene for Bergdorf Goodman Size 10 Ivory Off White Wool DressBy Geoffrey BeeneLocated in San Diego, CAI had this chic vintage GEOFFREY BEENE for Bergdorf Goodman dress once, and it sold right away ! There are so many details that went into designing this dress. Intricately placed ple...Category
Late 20th Century American Cocktail Dresses
- 1960s Galanos Ivory Off - White Linen Avant Garde Vintage 60s Mod Cream DressBy Galanos, James GalanosLocated in San Diego, CARare early 1960s JAMES GALANOS for Bonwit Teller ivory Irish linen Avant Garde dress ! This gem is seriously a musuem worthy couture piece from Galanos' early work. Couture quality, ...Category
1960s American Cocktail Dresses