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.
$2,200
W 26 in L 32 in
Gianni Versace Miami Tropical South Beach Print Silk Button-Up Shirt circa 1993
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Gianni Versace Miami Tropical South Beach Print Silk Button-Up Shirt from circa 1993 exemplifies opulent 1990s fashion with its vibrant, exotic tropical motif that captures the ...
Gianna Versace SS 1993 Miami Collection Silk Shirt
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Introducing the iconic Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 1993 Miami Collection Silk Shirt, a rare and extraordinary piece that encapsulates the vibrancy and glamour of the era. Crafted from luxurious silk, this printed button-up shirt is a testament to Gianni Versace's bold and visionary approach to fashion. The shirt features a captivating Miami Everglades print that pays homage to the city's eclectic culture and natural beauty. The print depicts crocodiles, flags, palm trees, and signature Versace baroque prints throughout, creating a mesmerizing and dynamic design that is both eye-catching and symbolic of the brand's heritage. With its vibrant colors and intricate details, this silk shirt is a true statement piece that exudes luxury and sophistication. Whether worn as a standalone statement or layered under a blazer for a more polished look, it adds a touch of glamour and personality to any ensemble. Rare and highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike, the Gianni Versace Spring/Summer 1993 Miami Collection Silk Shirt is a timeless and iconic piece that captures the spirit of the era and continues to inspire contemporary fashion today. Style this with a pair of Tom Ford pants, a Cartier ring and some Gucci loafers to complete the look. In pristine condition with no signs of wear, please see photos. Comes with original Gianni Versace garment bag (pictured). Made in Italy. Size mens 52...
S/S 1991 Gianni Versace Vogue Pop Art Printed Silk Shirt
By Gianni Versace Couture
Located in Concord, NC
Gianni Versace Vogue vintage multicolored printed pop art shirt from the Spring 1991 collection. Featuring the iconic Vogue print with Vogue magaz...
Gianni Versace Arlecchino Print Silk Print Button-Up Shirt circa 1992
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Gianni Versace Arlecchino Print Silk Print Button-Up Shirt from circa 1992 exemplifies the bold, eclectic aesthetic characteristic of early '90s high fashion. Crafted from luxur...
Gianni Versace Opera Multicolor Silk Print Button-Up Shirt circa 1980s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Gianni Versace Opera Multicolor Silk Print Button-Up Shirt from the circa 1980s exemplifies bold luxury and timeless elegance. Crafted from sumptuous silk, it features a vibrant...
Gianni Versace Silk Autumn Nature Print Button-Up Shirt circa 1990s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Gianni Versace Silk Autumn Nature Print Button-Up Shirt from the circa 1990s exemplifies luxury and bold design. Crafted from sumptuous silk, it features a striking autumnal nat...
Versace Jeans Couture Graffiti Print Cotton Button-Up Shirt circa 1990s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Versace Jeans Couture Graffiti Print Cotton Button-Up Shirt from the circa 1990s is a striking example of late 20th-century high-end streetwear infused with luxury fashion. The ...
Gianni Versace Pop Art Print Button-Up Blouse circa 1990s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
This Gianni Versace Pop Art Print Button-Up Blouse from the circa 1990s is a striking example of high-end designer craftsmanship and bold aesthetic. The vibrant pop art-inspired print features vivid colors and geometric prints that exemplify Versace’s signature flamboyant style. Made from quality materials, this blouse offers both visual impact and luxurious feel, making it a versatile statement piece for various ensembles. It can be effortlessly styled with high-end designer items such as a pair of tailored Balmain leather trousers...
Atelier Gianni Versace Miami Silk Shirt
By Gianni Versace
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Gianna Versace straight from the archives! Circa 1990s, this silk shirt features a Miami inspired print with bright ombre neon colors, various tropicana floral arrangements, postcard...
$1,909Sale Price|35% Off
Size: M
Gianni Versace Vintage Multicoloured Cotton Shirt Unisex Size M 1990s
By Gianni Versace
Located in Capri, IT
Gianni Versace iconic multicoloured cotton shirt Versace rare indian shirt totally made in Italy in size M
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Silk "Legues" Baroque Printed Shirt Sz 40
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
Collar Button has chipped enamel. 1990S GIANNI VERSACE Silk "Legues" Baroque Printed Shirt Sz 40
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Silk "Autumn Nature" Baroque Printed Shirt Sz 40
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Silk "Autumn Nature" Baroque Printed Shirt Sz 40
1980S GIANNI VERSACE Printed Silk Playing Card Shirt Sz 42
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
1980S GIANNI VERSACE Printed Silk Playing Card Shirt Sz 42
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Miami Collection Silk Blouse & Cotton Jeans Set
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Miami Collection Silk Blouse & Cotton Jeans Set
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Lime Green Silk Men's Flag Print Shirt
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Lime Green Silk Men's Flag Print Shirt
1990S GIANNI VERSACE Multicolor Geometric Silk Men's Shirt Sz 52
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
Has a few small spots in the print. 1990S GIANNI VERSACE Multicolor Geometric Silk Men's Shirt Sz 52
