VERSACE Size 2 Black Cotton Textured Cap Sleeves Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 2 (US)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:
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: San Francisco, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- BOTTEGA VENETA Size XS Cream Cotton Blend Textured One Shoulder DressBy Bottega VenetaLocated in San Francisco, CABOTTEGA VENETA dress comes in a cream cotton terry cloth knit material featuring an one shoulder style. Made in Italy.Excellent Pre- Owned Conditions. Marked: XS Measurements:...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- MARC JACOBS Size 0 Black Silk Ruffle Sleeve Asymmetrical GownBy Marc JacobsLocated in San Francisco, CAMARC JACOBS gown comes in a black silk featuring an asymmetrical style, double strap details, and a ruffle sleeve design. Made in USA. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 0 M...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ball Gowns
- BALMAIN Size 6 Grey Wool Chain V-Neck DressBy BalmainLocated in San Francisco, CABALMAIN dress in a grey wool jersey fabric featuring chain shoulder details, a relaxed fit, two pockets, and sleeveless style. Made in France.Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked:...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- MARC JACOBS Size 0 Black Polyester Blend Textured Shift DressBy Marc JacobsLocated in San Francisco, CAMARC JACOBS RUNWAY dress comes in a black textured jacquard polyester blend woven material featuring a sheath style, pockets, bow detail at ba...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- SONIA RYKIEL Size 4 Black Multi-Color Viscose Floral Snaps DressBy Sonia RykielLocated in San Francisco, CASONIA RYKIEL long sleeve dress comes in a black and multi-color floral viscose woven material featuring a shirt dress style, elastic waist, patch pockets, v-neck, and and front snap ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- MARNI Size S Blue White Yellow Sleeveless DressBy MarniLocated in San Francisco, CAMARNI dress comes in a white, yellow and blue woven material featuring a rushed detail, loose fit, shift design, and a sleeveless style. Made in Italy.Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- Extremely Rare Mariano Fortuny Cotton DelphosBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis extraordinarily rare dress is made of finely pleated white cotton. Few cotton pleated Fortuny dresses have been documented and survived.
Named after a Greek clas...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
- Mariano Fortuny Rare Shell Pink Long Sleeved Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYDescription: This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
Named after a ...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Delphos Gowns
Mariano Fortuny Sienna Peplos GownBy FortunyLocated in Riverdale, NYThis dress is made of finely pleated sienna colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording.
...CategoryEarly 20th Century Italian Art Deco Peplos
MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION 1992 Vintage Lace Mini DressBy Michael KorsLocated in Leonardo, NJMichael Kors Vintage Runway SS92 USA size Medium but fits closer to a size Small Pristine Measurements in inches laying flat: length 34, smallest of waist 13, hips 16. Can stretch 2 ...Category1990s Cocktail Dresses