Gianni Versace - The myth
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
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Gianni Versace was a well-known Italian designer, founder of the homonymous fashion house. Born in Reggio Calabria in 1946, he took his first steps in the world of fashion working in his mother's tailor shop, from which he learned the secrets of the trade. Versace himself will claim that the true artist is the tailor.
He moved to Milan in 1972 at the age of 25 and began working as a designer of clothes for some well-known fashion houses; presents his first collection of clothes in 1975 and in 1978, during the fashion show at La Permanente in Milan, he signs his new collection for the first time with his name.
In Milan, in the new fashion capital, Versace gives vent to its creativity, made of sensuality and carnality, combining bright colors and using new materials.
In 1978 he founded the Maioson Versace with his brother Santo and in the following years his name became more and more popular in the fashion field, also internationally, alongside brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Soon, his sister Donatella Versace will join the two brothers and the medusa will become the logo, as well as a sign of recognition, of the new Maison.
A stylistic choice of great importance was certainly that made by Versace in 1982, when the designer chose the "oroton", a technological fabric to create a series of dresses for his new collection of futuristic models. Oroton is in fact a particular soft and light metal mesh. The “metallic” clothes soon became a hallmark of his style, made of extravagance, unscrupulousness and refinement of the materials, effectively overturning the traditional canons of fashion.
At the end of the 1980s, the Italian fashion house ended up in the spotlight for its sadomaso style, causing public opinion to scream in scandal for the irreverence of his clothes. Also, in those years, his sister Donatella was entrusted with the leadership of the “Versus” brand, the Maison's youth line.
In the 90s we arrive at the period of minimalism, dominated by black, with provocative dresses, wide necklines and vertiginous slits: a style full of sexuality for dresses that will make the history of fashion.
But the definitive consecration of Versace on an international level came in 1995, when the American magazine "Time" crowned Gianni Versace "Man of the moment".
In his private life, Gianni Versace was romantically linked to the designer and former model Antonio D'Amico. And it was with him when he was murdered on July 15, 1997 in his home in Miami Beach, where they spent the holidays together. To kill him with two gunshots was Andrew Cunanan, a drug addict and gigolo from the Californian homosexual community, found dead a few days after the murder. The death of the Italian designer was thus shrouded in mystery. The mortal remains of Gianni Versace now rest in Italy, in the Moltrasio cemetery, while the empire he created was bequeathed to his brothers, who continue to keep the legend alive.
Recognized internationally as one of the protagonists of "Made in Italy", Versace has been an icon of Italian fashion in the world. A myth that has changed the course of fashion in twenty years of activity. His creative flair was able to conquer the world of fashion catwalk in a short time and his unmistakable style will remain forever in the characteristics of the Maison he founded.
He moved to Milan in 1972 at the age of 25 and began working as a designer of clothes for some well-known fashion houses; presents his first collection of clothes in 1975 and in 1978, during the fashion show at La Permanente in Milan, he signs his new collection for the first time with his name.
In Milan, in the new fashion capital, Versace gives vent to its creativity, made of sensuality and carnality, combining bright colors and using new materials.
In 1978 he founded the Maioson Versace with his brother Santo and in the following years his name became more and more popular in the fashion field, also internationally, alongside brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Soon, his sister Donatella Versace will join the two brothers and the medusa will become the logo, as well as a sign of recognition, of the new Maison.
A stylistic choice of great importance was certainly that made by Versace in 1982, when the designer chose the "oroton", a technological fabric to create a series of dresses for his new collection of futuristic models. Oroton is in fact a particular soft and light metal mesh. The “metallic” clothes soon became a hallmark of his style, made of extravagance, unscrupulousness and refinement of the materials, effectively overturning the traditional canons of fashion.
At the end of the 1980s, the Italian fashion house ended up in the spotlight for its sadomaso style, causing public opinion to scream in scandal for the irreverence of his clothes. Also, in those years, his sister Donatella was entrusted with the leadership of the “Versus” brand, the Maison's youth line.
In the 90s we arrive at the period of minimalism, dominated by black, with provocative dresses, wide necklines and vertiginous slits: a style full of sexuality for dresses that will make the history of fashion.
But the definitive consecration of Versace on an international level came in 1995, when the American magazine "Time" crowned Gianni Versace "Man of the moment".
In his private life, Gianni Versace was romantically linked to the designer and former model Antonio D'Amico. And it was with him when he was murdered on July 15, 1997 in his home in Miami Beach, where they spent the holidays together. To kill him with two gunshots was Andrew Cunanan, a drug addict and gigolo from the Californian homosexual community, found dead a few days after the murder. The death of the Italian designer was thus shrouded in mystery. The mortal remains of Gianni Versace now rest in Italy, in the Moltrasio cemetery, while the empire he created was bequeathed to his brothers, who continue to keep the legend alive.
Recognized internationally as one of the protagonists of "Made in Italy", Versace has been an icon of Italian fashion in the world. A myth that has changed the course of fashion in twenty years of activity. His creative flair was able to conquer the world of fashion catwalk in a short time and his unmistakable style will remain forever in the characteristics of the Maison he founded.