A Retrospective: Gianni Versace (1946-1997)

[Eccentricity]

Gianni Versace

Im posting this because i am intrigued by him. I would like to learn more about him. Please post pictures of his collections or work, pre Donnatella. I know he was reknown for recasting and cancelling girls, as he did repeatedly with Linda, Kate and even his "muse" Noami. I wonder why. If he was alive the house of Versace would be a real force to be reckoned with. Miss Donatella has done a commendable job but in the long term, is taking Versace to the dogs.

 

[j´adore dior]

he created the supermodel phenomenon by using magazine models on his ruways rather than unknown catwalks ones (i guess at that time it used to be a difference between them), he was born in reggio, calabria and used to spend time at her moms atelier, she was a dress maker aswell, he liked to travel with her to Paris to buy fabrics and learn the craft by watching, he had two sisters and one brother, donatella, 10 years jounger that him, santo, older, and another one, who´s name i forgot but dyed before donatella was even born if in not mystaked. Gianni always felt atraction or curiosity for prostitutes that used to see on the stretts, he liked their colorful, flashy clothing and that obviously had a huge impact in his designs later because as far as i know he was one of the first designers stablishing sex in a literal way on the catwalk and the first one to start working with famous music related artist, although he was very quiet and didn´t liked to party at all, unlike his sister Donatella who by the time Gianni met Elthon John she had already been with him in soirés five times before, he also felt that money was made to be spent and there fore liked to live his life filled with luxury and make huge gifts to friends and one time made santo break all of his credit cards.

he worked in genny and callahan before stablishing his own house and by that time he called his sister, who quited college to asist him in all the design part and even gave her the secondary line, versus, to design by her own....., Gianni was also one of the first designers mixing and making innovation with materials, using plastic, metal mesh, inserting lace into leather, barroque prints ( a huge signature for the house) and also worked with the ballet making them costumes for both women and men.
He was in love of Miami and always refused to be accompanied by bodyguards, he was very kind and supprted aids causes constantly, he had a boyfriend called Antonio who ventured in the design world unsucessfully after he was murdered.

 

[j´adore dior]

of course there is a world of more information about him on the web, you could start by visiting www.versace.com on the biography section or http://www.designerhistory.com/historyofashion/modelsframe.html

his last haute couture collection, for fall winter 1997, was one of my favourites, it was very sharp, with exagerated shoulder pads and golden tones with crystal crosses, leathers and some japanesse influences, unfortunatelly i have no pictures available at this moments but this dress:

is a remake using the design from one of
the dresses showed on that Atelier collection.

 

[fashionistasista]

wow thanks j'ador dior, i knew a bit about him but this was really intersting thanks for posting

 

[j´adore dior]

^my pleasure

here are a few images from his last Atelier collection, presented july the 24th on the Ritz, i´m having a hard time posting them but i will keep on trying.

 

[Eccentricity]

Wow, beautiful, Gianni is legendary and groundbreaking, it is an unfortunate loss to the fashion industry indeed. Thanks so much J'adore dior, i needed to be more informed of his work, mwah and karma for you!

 

[j´adore dior]

you are welcome.

 

[Hye Park Lover]

If it's not too rude to ask, how did he die? and did he mean to pass the house down to Donatella? or did she simply feel she should carry on the work of her brother?

 

[j´adore dior]

If it's not too rude to ask, how did he die? and did he mean to pass the house down to Donatella? or did she simply feel she should carry on the work of her brother?

he was shoot outside his mansion in Miami aparently by a guy called Andrew Cunnanan, who suicided after and there for all of the murder investigations where closed.
He left his 50% of the bussines (other 50 were shared by his brothers, 20% Donatella, 30% Santo) to Donatella´s daughter Allegra, who turned 18 last year, Donatella taking the design control of the house seemed rather obvious because she was already designing Versus by her own and he asisted Gianni through all the collections since the begining, she was his right hand so who better to do it.

 

[Hye Park Lover]

He wasn't a political character, but a genius fashion designer, why that guy shot him is beyond me!? But Gianni I hope you rest in peace

[edit] so now Donatella's daughter's turned 18 and she owns the majority of the company, will she become the designer, or will Donatella carry on taking the fashion world by storm?

 

[j´adore dior]

He wasn't a political character, but a genius fashion designer, why that guy shot him is beyond me!? But Gianni I hope you rest in peace

[edit] so now Donatella's daughter's turned 18 and she owns the majority of the company, will she become the designer, or will Donatella carry on taking the fashion world by storm?

Allegra´s interest has nothing to do with fashion, she wants to study drama so i think Versace´s destiny will still lie on donatella´s hands.

 

[LAMALONE]

I love Versace always have and always will.He is greatly missed.

 

[LAMALONE]

by him ofcourse.an Homage to Gianni

Where online can i go to find some designs he put out before he passed? Because i would really like to post my fovorite on here.

 

[j´adore dior]

you can find a few collections from him at fritview.com

 

[Hye Park Lover]

Allegra´s interest has nothing to do with fashion, she wants to study drama so i think Versace´s destiny will still lie on donatella´s hands.

But will she give her 50% over to her mother, or will she just keep it and get 50% of the company's profit?

 

[j´adore dior]

But will she give her 50% over to her mother, or will she just keep it and get 50% of the company's profit?

you got me there!, i´m not totally sure but i think i saw on the news that people from versace will take care of it or something, i don´t think she will give her 50% of the company, i think or it sounds better to have people administrating it for you right?, i don´t know, it was Gianni´s will so it even sound a bit disrespecfull to give all of that work amounted fortune to somenone else, and at the end everything stays in family so...

 

[Vogue_Boy]

I find it kool that someone in this forum actually knew the versace family, thats just amazing.
Gianni we miss you,im sure heaven is a better place because of you.

 

[DosViolines]

Never been a fan, but he deserves to have an active thread

doylenewyork

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Versace Couture Jeweled Cuff Evening Jacket
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Italian, 1980s

Of silk ottoman, scarlet exterior and aqua lining, metallic gold braid trim, three-quarter modified swing, batwing sleeves with deep aqua cuffs embroidered with polychrome rhinestones and sequins in mask motif, one size, labeled: Gianni Versace Couture.[/FONT]

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(left) Versace Jeweled Gator Print Dress, Italian, circa 1992. Estimate: $2,000 - 3,000.

(right) Versace Pastel Beaded and Jeweled Dress, Italian, circa 1991. Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000.

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Versace Couture Bondage Dress
Italian, Fall 1992

Black wool and silk challis, the two triangular breast panels with leather cuffs and Medusa button secured by channel stitched leather and fabric straps girding torso, pencil skirt with leather waistband and Medusa medallion, size 8/10, labeled: Gianni Versace/Couture.
Excellent condition.

One of only eight made, this lot is sold with the original Versace catalog Collezione Donna Autunno-Inverno 1992-1993 photographed by Irving Penn and is featured adorning Naomi Campbell, p.101 and 113.

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Versace Jewel Encrusted Bondage Halter
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Italian, 1993

The ground of tiger pattern worked in seed beads with applique and embroidered baroque motifs of variform gold colored rhinestones, gilt-metal beads and metallic gold couching, black and white cotton straps at back, size 4, labeled: Versace Atelier.

See Gianni Versace, Vanitas, p.126 for bolero version.[/FONT]

 

[Squizree]

Bondage! That's so sexy! Oh how awesome Gianni was!

 

[medusa80]

I adore Gianni and for all of you who are interested, this is my forum:

http://gianniversace.free-forums.org/gianniversace.html