Gianni Versace: from Antiquity to Pop Art and BDSM

Celebrities and emphasized sexy supermodels, crazy luxury and bright advertising campaigns, provocative images and extravagant parties, big money and endless articles in the social chronicles and a unique style that stirs the consciousness of all the famous rival couturiers – a real dream for a young designer and a familiar reality for the emotional and bright rebel Gianni. 

He rejected any rules, daring to dictate his own, simply adored beautiful things, which further emphasized his arrogant and strong character and gladly shocked with loud statements his public, which, although more often perplexed by the antics, was still crazy about Gianni’s bold fantasies.

By the way, behind all the fantasies was a huge amount of effort and labor. 

In those days, Internet technologies were not yet developed at all, and the design of their collections natural born fashion designer had to come up with literally on the fly. That is, if you imagine the work of a designer, who at the beginning inspirationally draws sketches, using computer design, then – slowly transferred to the fabric and adjusted on the models, it is all too prosaic. Gianni Versace preferred his collections directly on the model, without any sketches and drawings. 

Rich imagination was born in Gianni’s head, drawing inspiration from modern art, architecture, theater and ordinary prostitutes that he had to meet on the streets in his childhood. Prints were created with the help of stencils and rollers. At the same time, the most complex designs could consist of 23 shades, which could compete only with Hermes scarves. Gianni Versace attached special importance to prints, while other couturiers limited themselves to a maximum of four colors in the designs. Printed drawings formed the basis of the fashion designer’s creativity throughout his radiant career, and the most vivid of them are still admired in the archives of the Fashion House. 

Gianni Versace’s passions had no limits and of course were embodied in each new collection, which became a real event in the world of haute couture:

Love of antiquity  

The head of the Gorgon jellyfish was more than aptly chosen. Gianni believed that Versace could captivate the hearts of fashion lovers as much as the magical gaze of a mythical goddess. Mythology and antique themes continued their presence in all collections of the couturier, giving a special symbolism. In order to honor the memory of the great couturier, on the 20th anniversary of Gianni Versace’s death, the Versace Tribute Collection was released in 2018, dedicated to Gianni’s designs and reinterpreting the brand’s iconic symbols.  

Baroque patterns

Spectacular baroque patterns and ornaments were to the public’s liking just at the time when fashion society demanded something new and unexplored. Gianni Versace was able to reflect the rich cultural Italy in a modern interpretation, and in 1992, combining baroque patterns with leopard print, caused a real sensation. Gianni himself also enjoyed wearing a Versace bomber jacket with a baroque print.

Predatory print

Animal magnetism, freedom and aggressive sexuality were able to give women a sense of superiority, power and desirability. Despite the fact that now leopard print causes a lot of jokes, in the 80-90’s this print allowed ladies to feel sexy, bold and relaxed. The wild and exotic theme was embodied in the Jungle collection of 2000, where in addition to bright colors and animal prints, there were also tropical motifs. The collection became one of the most colorful and memorable.

Spectacular Pop Art

In addition to high art, Gianni Versace was fond of pop art, the works of Andy Warhol, who like Gianni sought to package cultural codes in a beautiful wrapper, in 1991 Versace created a unique collection with a portrait of Marilyn Monroe, created by Andy Warhol in the late 1960s. By the way, later Gianni Versace’s personal collection, consisting of twentieth-century works by the most famous artists, was sold at auction for 13 million dollars. Versace’s fascination with Pop Art was epitomized in his 1991 Pop Art collection, demonstrating the designer’s exceptional talent for combining popular culture with haute couture. 

Black Bondage

“Fatal and aggressive” was how Gianni described the Versace woman, comparing her to the same Medusa Gorgon. This image, at least its visual component, fits in well with the BDSM theme, to which in 1992 an entire collection with the distinctive name Miss S&M was dedicated, including corsets made of thin leather straps. 

Gianni Versace brought a lot of innovation to the haute couture, boldly combined extravagance with sophistication and created a unique style that continues to glorify the name of the great maestro, outside the framework and time, as he lived.