The ensuing frenzy to find the killer and the initial shock of Gianni’s death came and went. On July 15, 1997, the fifty-year-old designer was murdered in front of his Miami estate, Casa Casuarina. Unfortunately the future of fashion that Gianni Versace envisioned would never fully materialize. Contending with the likes of John Galliano’s theatrics at Dior and Alexander McQueen’s dark avant-garde, Versace decided to up the ante while remaining true to his aesthetic. Gold Oroton chainmail was draped like silk and felt more haute couture than cocktail. Pinstripes, bold shoulders and asymmetrical touches made floor-length gowns feel like the new power suit. Instead of an overt vision of Italian glamour, bejeweled Byzantine crosses were subdued with a heavy dose of black. Nine days before that fateful event, the Atelier Versace Fall/Winter 1997 collection showcased something new for Gianni. Gianni Versace’s last collection could’ve been a turning point for the designer, if it had not been for his murder. A Transformative MomentĪndy Warhol’s “Marilyn Monroe” print was featured in Versace’s Spring 1991 “Pop” collection. Gianni manipulated the media to his benefit, and married fashion and celebrity culture in an unprecedented way. The spectacle of the runway revolved around the supermodels as much as it did the clothes, while the paparazzi’s snaps of Princess Diana and Elizabeth Hurley wearing Versace turned the designer into a household name. In addition to his jaw-dropping looks, Gianni knew the power of both a star-studded catwalk and a roster of high-profile celebrity clients. Her concluding look for the collection was a wedding mini dress, veil and bouquet included.īondage was a common theme for Gianni Versace, and this safety pin recalls the iconic dress Elizabeth Hurley wore in 1994 and recently pulled from the archives. Versace’s signature Oroton chainmail was once famously worn on the Fall/Winter 1995 runway by a glittering Kate Moss. Latex, leather, safety pins and other elements of bondage were commonplace in Gianni’s designs, as well as references to pop culture, slinky silhouettes and experimental materials. Versace’s “Barocco” look was unmistakably Italian, with the Medusa head and the Grecian key as its most notable house codes. It was a stark counter to the minimalism and restrained elegance of his contemporary, Giorgio Armani, but together the designers helped establish Milan as a major fashion destination. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Gianni defined Atelier Versace - his runway collection - with his provocative, decadent and over-the-top creations. At the heart of Gianni Versace’s success was a trifecta of decade-defining design, business savvy and marketing genius. At his side were his siblings - his brother Santo as the company’s CEO, and his sister Donatella as a designer, the company’s Vice President and Gianni’s unofficial muse. Though he never trained formally, in 1978 he founded Gianni Versace SpA and staged his first ready-to-wear show at the Palazzo della Permanente. After graduating high school, Gianni worked for his mother before moving to Milan in 1972 and cutting his design teeth at several Italian ateliers. Born in the small town of Reggio di Calabria, Italy in 1946, he spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of dressmaking at his mother’s shop. Gianni Versace was introduced to the world of fashion early on in life, though he came from humble beginnings. The Evolution Of An IconĪ Versace scarf features the Medusa head at top and the Grecian key motif at bottom. Read on to learn about the rise of Versace, why it suddenly feels fresher than ever and key authenticity tips for spotting the real deal from our Chief Authenticator Graham Wetzbarger. But to understand how we got here, it’s important to go back to the beginning. The current fashion climate has primed it for a comeback. If you’re surprised that Versace has resurfaced seemingly overnight, don’t be. Then came the news that Michael Kors had acquired Versace, followed by the release of the KITH x Versace collaboration, a millennial crash course in the Versace aesthetic. Vintage Versace next made it to the top of everyone’s Instagram feed courtesy of Kim Kardashian West, a self-admitted Versace obsessive (she’s raided the archives for many classics first seen on supermodel Naomi Campbell). FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace chronicled the tragedy that many in the fashion industry had mourned firsthand. The house soon popped up in a fairly unexpected place - television. AUTHENTICITY It was Donatella Versace’s tribute to her brother Gianni - the Versace Spring/Summer 2018 collection commemorating the 20th anniversary of his death - that seemed to initiate a chain reaction.
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