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.
Vintage 1.12ct Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18k White Gold, 1980s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This striking vintage diamond ring is a dazzling reflection of 1980s elegance, defined by scale, brilliance, and confident design. Composed of an impressive array of sixty-seven bagu...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Diamond and White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage 0.68 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold cocktail ring; part of our diverse vintage jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This fine and impressive unusual diamond band...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
18 Karat White Gold Diamond Cocktail Ring
By Vitale 1913
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18K white gold cocktail ring is from Dentelle Collection. This classy piece of jewellery is made of natural white diamonds in total of 1.64 Carat. Total metal weight is 6.50 gr. Perf...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
18kt White Gold Diamond Pavé Cocktail Ring, 1.80ct by Leo L'Orafo - 1990
Located in Napoli, IT
Prominent contemporary chevalier ring in 18 kt white gold, embellished with an elegant pavé of natural brilliant-cut diamonds that entirely covers the top of the jewel with extraordi...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Modern Italian Ring in 18 karat White Gold with Diamonds
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
The Modern Italian Ring in 18kt White Gold with Diamonds relief work is a stunning piece of jewelry that combines contemporary design with luxurious materia...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
18 Karat White Gold Diamond Cocktail Ring
By Vitale 1913
Located in Monte-Carlo, MC
18K white gold ring is from Sirène Collection. It is a delicate creation of natural round colorless diamonds in total of 1.61 Carat. Total metal weight is 8.40 gr. Great addition to any look! The Sirène collection is inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea that surround us in our beautiful Principality of Monaco and the pearls that reminds to the mother of pearl. The Sirène collection highlights to the mesmerizing, majestic and mysterious creatures hidden in the abysals with a strong seduction power thanks to the legendary sirens’ song.This collection celebrates an ephemeral beauty that makes all generations dream through the tales of Andersen with Ariel The Little Mermaid up to the mythical film Pirate of the...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s 0.75ct Diamond Twist Cocktail Ring in 14k White Gold
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage 1950s 0.75 carat diamond and 14 karat white gold twist style cocktail ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This fine and impressive vintage 1950s diamond cocktail ring has been crafted in 14k white gold. The pierced decorated, twist design is ornamented with five modern brilliant round cut diamonds, bezel set to individual square shaped setting and displayed on a diagonal to the center. The setting is embellished with a further ten pavé set eight-cut diamonds. The subtly flared band ring shoulders blend with the twist design and meld seamlessly with the plain ring shank. This vintage twist ring...
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
HRD Certified Vintage 18 Karat White Gold and Diamonds Cocktail Ring
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
Top Ring : diameter : 1.8cm , height : 1cm Step into a world of vintage-inspired elegance with this stunning HRD Certified White Gold Ring, adorned with 25 natural diamonds totaling...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s 1.17 Carat Diamond and White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage 1960s 1.17 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold bow shaped cocktail ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This fine and impressive vintage diamond bow ring has been crafted in 18k white gold. The bow design setting displays a feature 0.42Ct modern brilliant round cut diamond, bezel set in relief to the center. The flared setting is embellished with twenty eight diamonds, channel set in a combination of baguette and tapered baguette cuts. The subtly elevated, flared ring shoulders integrate with the main setting and meld seamlessly with the plain ring shank. The ring is hallmarked to the outer surface of the shank, however this is worn and illegible in keeping with age and therefore the ring has been independently tested using state of the art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as 18k gold. This vintage 1960s cocktail ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading certificate for the feature diamond in addition to an independent diamond grading report card for the supporting stones. Images do not always reflect the true color and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual color and showcases each stone. Condition This impressive vintage bow ring...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 0.78 Carat Diamond and 18k White Gold Cocktail Ring Circa 1950
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage 0.78 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold dress ring; part of our diverse diamond jewelry collections. This fine and impressive vintage diamond ring h...
Diamond, White Gold
BVLGARI Modernist Cocktail Ring In 18Kt White Gold With 4.16 Ctw VS Diamonds
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
A diamonds cocktail ring designed by Bvlgari. This is a beautiful cocktail ring-band created in Italy by the iconic jewelry house of Bvlgari, back in the 2000. The gorgeous ring has...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Cartier Paris Nouvelle Bague Ring In 18Kt White Gold With 2.76 Cts in Diamonds
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Nouvelle bague ring designed by Cartier. Beautiful ring, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Cartier. This rare ring is part of the iconic Nouvelle Bague collection and ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
CARTIER Paris Jeton Sauvage Cocktail Ring 18Kt White Gold With 2.86 Ctw Diamonds
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A Jeton Sauvage cocktail ring designed by Cartier. This is a fantastic special-edition Jeton Sauvage cocktail ring, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
KURT WAYNE Cocktail Ring In 18Kt White Gold With 2.14 Cwt. In VVS Diamonds
By Kurt Wayne
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage cocktail ring designed by Kurt Wayne (1909-1990). This is a very unusual cocktail ring created by the jewelry designer Kurt Wayne back in 1971. The ring has been hand-craf...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
DINH VAN Paris Double Menottes R-10 Ring In 18Kt White Gold With VS-1 Diamonds
By Jean Dinh Van
Located in Miami, FL
Menottes R10 ring designed by Dinh Van. Beautiful vintage ring created in Paris France by the artist jeweler Jean Dinh Van. back in the 1990. This iconic Menottes R10 ring has been ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
ART DECO 1935 Cocktail Ring In Solid Platinum With 4.11 Ctw Mixed Cuts Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
An art deco cocktail ring with diamonds. This is a gorgeous, bold and substantial cocktail ring, created in in America during the late art-deco period, back in the 1935's. The ring ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
