Gianni Versace 1997 Couture fall black leather gown
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 55.91 in (142 cm)Bust: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2871219105552
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.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, Netherlands
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Vivienne Westwood 1991-1992 Cupid dressBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHThe Vivienne Westwood 1992 Putti Print Dress is a true gem from the iconic fashion designer's remarkable collection. The print was frist release...Category
1990s Day Dresses
- Miu Miu 1996 white dressBy Miu MiuLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZH90's Miu Miu white button down dress. Very similar to look 36 of the 1996 runway collection. Which shows an open jacket. But this seems to be from a previous collection that Drew Bar...Category
1990s Day Dresses
- Paco Rabanne foil mini dressBy Paco RabanneLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHVintage Paco Rabanne foil mini dress. This iconic piece, famously worn by supermodel Kate Moss, features a stunning silver foil print that creates a shimmering chainmail effect on a ...Category
Early 2000s Mini Dress
- Alexander McQueen 2004 runway gownBy Alexander McQueenLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHLook 50 of the Alexander Mcqueen 2004FW runway show. A short version of this design was seen during the 2004SS “Deliverance” collection. It’s inspired by the 1970s film “They Shoot...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses
- Issey miyake 2003 newspaper runway gownBy Issey MiyakeLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHHerpium is thrilled to present a unique piece from Issey Miyake's Spring/Summer 2003 collection: a vintage "goddess" concept dress adorned with a newspaper print. Crafted from premiu...Category
Early 2000s Evening Gowns
- Prada 1995ss final look boned dressBy PradaLocated in CAPELLE AAN DEN IJSSEL, ZHVintage Prada 1995 runway collection sheer halter dress. The dress is made of nylon and completely boned all around. Size 44, (L) Condition: 8/10, very g...Category
1990s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Azzedine Alaïa green and black wool jersey wrap dress, fw 1982By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GB▪ Azzedine Alaïa wool jersey wrap dress ▪ Green long-sleeve bodice ▪ Black knee-length wrap skirt ▪ Black patent leather straps with metal buckle ▪ Press studs at the center-back o...Category
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alaia Brown Wool Fit & Flare V-Neck Dress Sz FR42By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in New York, NYAlaia Brown Wool Fit & Flare V-Neck Dress Sz FR42 Made In: Italy Color: Brown Composition: 78% Wool, 12% polyester, 6% cupro, 4% nylon Lining: None Closure/opening: Back center zip ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Day Dresses
- Fall Winter 1988/89 Patrick Kelly Vintage Leopard Print Bodycon Runway DressBy Patrick KellyLocated in Portland, ORThis rare vintage Patrick Kelly leopard print dress is in a stretch fabric with ruching at the black velvet paneled sides which hugs the body per...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- 1970s Albert Nipon Vintage Dress in Black Satin With Ruff CollarBy Albert NiponLocated in Portland, ORThis beautiful vintage dress was designed by Albert Nipon in the 1970's. The dress is black satin with a ruff collar that has rows of topstitching. This is...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
- 2016 Moschino Couture Spilled Perfume Bottle Print Dress New with TagsBy MoschinoLocated in Portland, ORThis fun Moschino Couture dress is in a black, white and gold satin spilled perfume bottles print. This dress was designed by Jeremy Scott and is from the Moschino Resort...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Day Dresses
- Lanvin 2013 Alber Elbaz Sleeveless Gray & Black Metallic Animal Print DressBy Alber Elbaz, Lanvin ParisLocated in Portland, ORThis is such an incredible Lanvin cocktail dress designed by Alber Elbaz for his 2013 River collection. We love dresses like this one because it can be dressed up for dinner or worn ...Category
2010s Italian Informal Dresses