Versace Navy Bodycon Dress with Mesh Cut outs
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 40 (EU)Shoulder to Hem: 33 in (83.82 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Water Mill, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5113488951
Versace
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.
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 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. 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 Versace evening dresses, handbags, day dresses, accessories 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.
- Helmut Lang New Dress with Sequins 1990sBy Helmut LangLocated in Water Mill, NYA great navy blue dress by Helmut Lang. It is a simple crew neck sheath with a square black sequin covered center front panel from neckline to bust. It is unlined and has snaps clo...Category
1990s French Sheath Dresses
- Versace Color Block Dress with StudsBy VersaceLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous dress from Versace in purple and black silk jersey. It is sleeveless, semi fitted with a purple front panel and with insets of black along one side and front hem covered ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Thierry Mugler Color Block DressBy Thierry MuglerLocated in Water Mill, NYA beautiful body conscious purple dress trimmed in black velvet by Thierry Mugler. It has short sleeves, a sweetheart neckline and is semi fitted with princess seaming through to th...Category
1990s French Day Dresses
- Valentino Boutique Silk Disc Sleeve Dress 1980sBy Valentino, Valentino GaravaniLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous navy silk dress with tiny white dots dress from Valentino. The cap sleeves are incredible, the ends of them encircled with several 100 finished circles adding dimension a...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses
- Pierre Cardin 1960s Iconic Metal Hardware Collar DressBy Pierre CardinLocated in Water Mill, NYAn amazing purple wool dress from Pierre Cardin. It is sleeveless, skims the body then flares subtly to midi length with a center front slit. Around the neckline is a stunning silver metal hardware...Category
1960s French Day Dresses
- Gianni Versace Purple 1990s Dress with Origami HemBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous light weight purple wool dress by Gianni Versace. It is semi fitted with a stand up collar and long sleeves. The hem has intricate layers folds at angles front and back....Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- F/W 1993 Gianni Versace Couture Blue Purple Green Red Stripe Velvet Mini DressBy Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a vibrant striped velvet Gianni Versace Couture mini dress, designed by Gianni Versace. The full-length version of this dress debuted as the finale look on the Fall/Winter...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Purple Lace-Up Eyelet DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a purple plunging eyelet dress designed by Donatella for the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 2002 collection. The eyelets that cover every inch of this dress give it a flirty...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Purple Lace-Up Eyelet DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a purple plunging eyelet dress designed by Donatella for the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 2002 collection. The eyelets that cover every inch of this dress give it a light ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- S/S 1999 Gianni Versace by Donatella Runway Abstract Print Purple Silk DressBy Donatella Versace for Gianni Versace, Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a beautiful purple abstract Gianni Versace dress, designed by Donatella Versace for the Spring/Summer 1999 collection. This dress debuted on the season's runway and features a bold abstract purple print throughout with a v-neckline. Add this late 1990s runway...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2004 Versace by Donatella Versace Purple Tiger One Shoulder Buckle DressBy Versace, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a vibrant purple tiger print Versace dress, designed by Donatella Versace. From the Fall/Winter 2004 collection, the same print in yellow/orange debuted on looks 8 and 11. This beautiful deep purple dress...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Galanos Long sleeve Multi color Maxi Silk Dress in Abstract Print.By James Galanos, Galanos for Amelia GrayLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1970s Galanos for Amelia Gray Purple, Blue, Green , orange and yellow Abstract print flown silk chiffon gown with billowy sleeves. Size: Small / 4 Measurement; Bust: 34’ / Waist: 2...Category
1970s American Evening Gowns