A designer of luxurious note to celebrities to this day, catering for celebrities past and present and royalty such as Princess Diana, Gianni Versace brought vitality and art to an industry considered out of touch with street culture.
Who Was Gianni Versace?
Gianni Versace was one of the top fashion designers of the 1980s and ’90s. He launched his first clothing line in Milan, Italy, in 1978. In 1989, Versace debuted his first couture collection. He continued to add to his fashion empire, expanding into home furnishings and perfumes. Throughout his career, Versace designed for such high-profile figures as Madonna, Princess Diana, Elton John and Tina Turner. He was shot and killed outside his home in South Beach, Florida, in 1997.
Early Life and Career
Versace was born on December 2, 1946, in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. He was raised in the world of design, learning his trade at the hands of a mother who ran her own dressmaking business. Versace went to work for his mother after completing high school. In 1972, Versace moved to Milan, where he began freelance designing for Italian labels Genny, Callaghan and Complice. Versace launched his own ready-to-wear collection for women in 1978. The business was always a family affair, with his brother Santo and sister Donatella working for him.
The Versace Style
Versace became known for his glamorous styles, producing a range of siren dresses that became his trademark. He often used innovative materials such as aluminium mesh or cutting-edge techniques like “neo-couture” laser technology to fuse leather and rubber. The head of Medusa was also a recurring image on many of his clothing items and accessories. He launched his first couture collection in 1989 and added two clothing lines, Versus and Instante, to his business in the ’90s.
One of his most famous creations was a black dress held together at the sides by gold safety pins; worn by Elizabeth Hurley at a movie premiere in 1994; the dress helped make the actress a star. Versace developed strong relationships with several stars and supermodels, including Elton John, Madonna and Naomi Campbell. As Anna Wintour told The New York Times, Versace “was the first to realize the value of celebrity in the front row, and the value of the supermodel, and put fashion on an international media platform.” He was also one of the foremost designers who showed the power of bringing the fashion and music world together.
Versace’s illustrious career was decorated with numerous awards, including four L’Occhio d’Oros and an American Fashion Oscar in 1993. Some of his most imaginative creations could be found in theaters; the designer was often applauded for his costume designs for such ballets as Richard Strauss’ Josephlegende in 1982, Gustav Mahler’s Lieb und Leid in 1983 and Bejart’s Chaka Zulu in 1989. In 1987, Versace was awarded the Maschera D’Argento prize for his contributions to theater. He also created stage costumes for such pop performers as John, Madonna and Turner.
Expanding the Versace Empire
Versace’s designs have been showcased in several museums, including Chicago’s National Field Museum, London’s Royal College of Art, Japan’s Kobe City Museum and Germany’s Kunstgewerbemuseum. In addition to clothing, the designer expanded his brand in other directions. He launched his classic Signature fragrance line in 1991 and his line of furniture and home goods in 1993. Versace also published numerous books, including Rock and Royalty, The Art of Being You and Men Without Ties.
Death
Versace was only 50 years old when he was murdered outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida, on July 15, 1997. The beloved fashion designer was gunned down by 27-year-old spree killer Andrew Cunanan, who was found dead in a Miami Beach boathouse eight days later. Versace was survived by his longtime partner Antonio D’Amico. The couple even worked together, with D’Amico designing for the Versace Sport line.
Gianni Versace
Biography
(1946–1997)
APR 27, 2017
Main Image: Independent.ied
