Gianni Versace Essay, Research Paper
GIANNI VERSACE
Gianni Versace’s interpretation of fashion is original, somewhat exhibitionist and brightly coloured. He believed art and fashion go together and has been described by Time magazine as the youngest of Milan’s “young tyrants”. Born in Reggio Calabria on December 2, 1946, Versace started working in his mother’s atelier at the age of eighteen. He often travelled to London and Paris on pattern buying missions and was quick to learn the secrets of dressmaking and design. 1972 marked a turning point in his life. He was called to work for the Florentine Flowers clothing factory of Lucca. By the following year he was working as a ready-to-wear designer for Genny and Callaghan. In 1974 Versace conceived, designed, and helped to launch the Complice label. A few years later, in March 1978, encouraged by his success Versace presented his first signature collection for women at the Palazzo della Permanente Art Museum of Milan. His first menwear collection followed in September of the same year. Versace liked to consider himself a tailor, rather than a designer. He knew how to cut and sew the clothes he made. He tried on the men’s collections personally and had his sister Donatella try on the female ones. He paid careful attention to the male and female body. The Versace look of the young, aggressive and sexy woman is well-known. He liked to create sexy clothes for his women, skin-tight with low cuts and high slits on the skirts. Versace was among the first to revive the cat suit, to bring back the mini skirt, to show tights worn as trousers, to bring the bustier out at night and bead it. In 1982 his dreses made with fine metal mesh first appeared and were a hit. Versace has been referred to as the rock-and-roll designer and clients include Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Michael Jackson. He has also made clothes for the Princess of Wales and Caroline of Monaco. In 1982, Versace opened a new chapter in his career, making costumes for the theatre, opera and ballet. He began a close collaboration with choreographer Maurice Bejart. He went on to design accessories, jewellery, furnishings, and china. Versace reported gross income for 1996 as 1,705 billion lire (exchange rate approximately $1=1600 lire) for the entire group. There are 138 Gianni Versace boutiques in the world, and 345 sales points. Versus, the younger line, has 550 boutiques, and Istante, the less costly line, has 17 boutiques and 330 sales points. Gianni Versace was assasinated in front of his home on South Ocean Drive in Miami Beach on July 15, 1997. His sister, Donatella, who worked with him for years, has taken over as chief designer for the company. Her first collections have met with considerable success, both from fashion editors and clients. For the moment, plans to offer Versace stock on the exchange have been postponed .
VIP WEARING VERSACE
Maria Aitken
Carol Alt
Julie Andrews
Fanny Ardant
Barbara Bach
Kim Basinger
Marisa Berenson
Maurice Bejart
Candice Bergen
Jacqueline Bisset
Jeff Bridges
Sue Bridges
Carole Bouquet
David Bowie
Naomi Campbell
Andrea Cascella
Cher
Cyrielle Claire Eric Clapton
Phil Collins
Cindy Crawford
Barbara de Rossi
Terence Trent d’Arby
Principessa Diana
Carolina di Monaco
Laura Dern
Patrick Dupont
Duran Duran
Bob Dylan
Rupert Everett
Brian Ferry Jane Fonda
Danny Glover
Matt Goss
Hugh Grant
Melanie Griffith
Gullit Jerry Hall
M.C. Hammer
Margaux Hemingway
Isabelle Huppert
Elisabeth Hurley
Jeremy Irons
Michael Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Bianca Jagger
Mick Jagger
Elton John
Don Johnson
Grace Jones
Quincy Jones
Kelly Le Brook
Ute Lemper
Kenny Loggins
Dolph Lundgren Madonna
Paolo Maldini
Marcello Mastroianni
Paul Mc Cartney
Ali Mc Graw
George Michael Milva
Joanna Pakula
Patty Pravo
Prince
Franco Maria Ricci
Mikey Rourke
Stefania Sandrelli
Luciana Savignano
Greta Scacchi
Claudia Schiffer
Cybil Shepard
Jane Seymour Brooke Shields
Jacqueline Smith
Bruce Springsteen
Sylvester Stallone
Rod Stewart
Sting
Trudie Styler
Elisabeth Taylor
Christie Turlington
Tina Turner
Mike Tyson
Ornella Vanoni
Luigi Veronesi
Lambert Wilson
Paul Young
Rachele Ward
Walter Zenga
Zucchero