Influential Fashion Icon
Gianni Versace
Brief
Synopsis
Born December 2, 1946, in Reggio di Calabria, Italy,
Gianni Versace became one of the tops 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 his fashion empire,
expanding into home furnishings and perfurmes. Throughout his career, Versace
designed for such figures as Madonna, Prices Diana, Elton John and Tina Turner.
Early
Life and Career
Gianni was raised in the world of design, learning
his trade at the hands of his 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.
Top
Fashion Designer
Versace
became known for his glamorous styles, producing a range of siren dresses that
became his trademark. He often using innovative materials such as aluminum 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 for the black dress
held together at the sides by gold safety pins worn by Elizabeth Hurley in
1994. The dress helped make Hurley a star. Versace developed strong
relationships with a number of 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."
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's Josephlegende in 1982, Gustav Mahler's Lieb und Leid in 1983
and Bejart's Chaka Zulu in 1989. In 1987, Versace was awarded with theater's
Maschera D'Argento prize. He has also created stage costumes for such pop
performers as Elton John, Madonna and Tina Turner.
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 into other directions. He launched
his classic Signature fragrance line in 1991 and his line of furniture and home
goods in 1993. Versace has also published numerous books, including Rock and
Royalty, The Art of Being You and Men Without Ties.
Tragedy
and Legacy
Versace was only 50 years old when he was gunned
down outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida, on July 15, 1997. The much
beloved fashion designer is believed to have been murdered by 27-year-old spree
killer Andrew Cunanan. Cunanan was found dead in a Miami Beach boathouse eight
days after Versace's murder. Versace was survived by his longtime partner
Antonio D'Amico. The couple even worked together with D'Amico designing for the
Versace Sport line.
Several services were held for Versace, including
one at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. A who's who of the fashion
world—from Anna Wintour to Ralph Lauren to Calvin Klein to Marc Jacobs—turned
out to bid farewell to Versace. Whitney Houston, Jon Bon Jovi and Elton John
were among the performers at the memorial.
A designer to celebrities and royalty such as
Princess Diana, Versace is remembered for bringing vitality and art to an
industry considered out of touch with the street. In less than 10 years, he
built an empire worth $807 million. His beloved sister took over the creative
reins of the company after his death.
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Source: Bio True Story
Influential Fashion Icon
Reviewed by Rome White
on
4/09/2014 08:45:00 AM
Rating:
nice!
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