Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio di Calabria, in Southern Italy. His father Antonio was an appliance salesman. He trained under his mother Francesca who also ran a dress salon. He once said that all he knew about fashion, he had previously learned from his mother. He enjoyed making puppets from cloth which he found on the floor of his mother's workroom. Gianni Versace was regarded as the designer of choice by entertainers and professionals alike, who were attracted to his classics with an edge. His designs were also full of life, flamboyant, and extravagant. He rose to fame as the unopposed King of Glamour who built a $ l billion fashion empire. Gianni Versace first began working for his mother until he was 25. At the age of nine, Gianni Versace had however already designed his first dress, which was an off-the-shoulder velvet gown.

In 1972, Versace moved to Milan and worked for a short time with Florentine Flowers, then with De Parisini of Santa Margherita. He designed some "instant" summer wear, which flew off the racks. He then worked with Callaghan (Novara), Genny (Ancona), with Alma and also conceived and designed a line of his own called Complice.

In 1978, Versace opened his first shop on the via Spiga in Milan and presented his first signature collection as well as his first menswear collection. He used as his Logo, the head of Medusa, which can be identified with the woman from the ancient Greek legends who had snakes instead of hair.

Four years later, Versace won the L'Occhio d'Oro for the best fashion designer for his Fall/Winter collection, displaying the now famous metal garments made of light aluminium mesh.  In 1989, Versace presented Versus, a new line for young people looked after by Gianni's sister Donatella. A year following that, Versace launched his Classic V2 line and his Signature line which interpreted his vision in easier versions.

He also had the audacity to put Jeans on the catwalk during a couture show, which caused quite a stir in the fashion world at the time.

Early in the 1990s Versace also unveiled an array of leather bondage dresses, which an accentuated sense of sexuality. As usual, this caused quite a stir in the world of fashion.

In 1993, Versace designed the new line Home Signature, a line of home furnishings and products and received the American Fashion Oscar award.

In the year of 1996, Versace designed a dress for Elizabeth Hurley to wear to the premier of the film "4 Weddings and a Funeral". The dress was held together by 23 golden safety pins. It helped to make Liz Hurley the famous star that she is today. Also, in the early 90's, following her divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana felt that she was no longer under obligation to wear particular British clothes so she turned to Gianni Versace who was one of her favourites at this time; she truly loved to wear his short shift dresses. She also wore many of his evening gowns.

Sadly, in the summer of 1997 Gianni Versace was shot dead, at the age of 51 outside his home in Florida, U.S.A.

After Gianni's death, his sister Donatella took over the reins of the house of Versace. Being 13 years younger, brother and sister had a very close relationship and Gianni Versace considered her his muse. She started as an accessories designer, then took over Versace Young, the children's line. She was then appointed head designer for Versus, the youth line.
 

The Style of Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace was one of the most important Italian designers of the 1980s and 1990s, incredibly famous for his strong colour sense and neat and clean lines. He always wrapped the female form with bias-cut clothes and very fluid silks.

Many of his ideas were very audacious, but all were carried out to a high level of technical achievement. Versace viewed his clothes as a powerful statement which were executed with unfailing confidence.

Almost always the body was swathed or the garment wrapped in some manner. In his clothes, classical historical references blend with bold geometric shapes and complex textures in the most brilliant colours.

Versace's designs are unmistakable, and he very much enjoyed working with leather and experimenting with new fabrics and trimmings. His designs for the theatre and ballet influenced his fashion work a great deal.

 

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