Gianni Versace, known for his
glamorous style and fashion designs, produced a range of siren dresses that
became his trademark. He was born on December 2, 1946 in Reggio di Calabria,
Italy. Gianni Versace grew up with his older brother Santo and younger sister
Donatella, along with their father and mother, Francesca, a dressmaker.
Gianni Versace began his
apprenticeship at a young age, helping his mother find precious stones and gold
braid to embroider dresses. He studied architecture before moving to Milan at
the age of 26 to work in fashion design.
In the mid-1970s, Gianni Versace’s
knits drew the attention of headunters at Genny and Callaghan. Complice hired
him to design their suede and leather collections. A few years later,
encouraged by his success, Gianni Versace presented his first signature
collection for women at the Palazzo della Permanente Art Museum of Milan.
His first menswear collection
followed in September of the same year. After presenting Gianni Versace’s
menswear collection he joined Jorge Saud, who would later also become a partner
with Giorgio Armani. The first boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga
in 1978.
Gianni 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 ballets
like Richard Strauss' Josephlegende in 1982, Gustav Mahler's Lieb und
Leid in 1983 and Bejart's Chaka Zulu in 1989. In 1987, Gianni
Versace was awarded with theater's Maschera D'Argento prize. He has also
created stage costumes for pop performers like Elton John, Madonna and Tina
Turner.
Gianni Versace had an eye for talent
and worked with top photographers such as Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Bruce
Weber and Steven Meisel, and his favourite - Richard Avedon.
Gianni Versace was shot dead on July
15, 1997, at the age of 50, on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion as he
returned from a morning walk on Ocean Drive. He was murdered by Andrew
Cunanan, who used the same gun to commit suicide on a boat several days later.
His body was cremated and his ashes returned to the family's estate near
Cernobbio, Italy. Antonio D'Amico, a model and his partner, worked as designer
for the Versace sports line. In September 1997, it was announced that Gianni
Versace's brother, Santo, and Jorge Saud would serve as the new CEOs of Gianni
Versace S.P.A. His sister, Donatella, became the new head of design
A designer to celebrities and royalty such as Princess Diana, Gianni Versace brought vitality and art to an industry considered out of touch with the street. In October 2002, he was honored with a retrospective of his work at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The exhibition featured 138 of his most famous designs, as well as five others by his sister Donatella.
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