Dress
1983-1984 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Evening dress of black aluminium mesh in kimono style and with satin sash and diamente clips.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Aluminium mesh, silk satin and diamante |
Brief description | Evening dress in aluminium mesh, Gianni Versace, 1983-84 |
Physical description | Evening dress of black aluminium mesh in kimono style and with satin sash and diamente clips. |
Production type | Haute couture |
Gallery label | The luxurious combination of contrasting materials was a Versace hallmark. Craftsmanship and its painstaking execution has been the essential ingredient of Milanese fashion since the Renaissance and was certainly the case with Gianni Versace.
Fabrics used by Versace were usually designed and executed to his specifications. After years of experimentation which utilised new technologies, a lightweight aluminium mesh was produced for Versace which was soft and pliable enough to be sewn in the usual way and made into shimmering, modernistic evening dresses.
This evening gown, which is short-sleeved and asymmetric in cut, wraps across the body and swoops to a point at the ankle. The deep V-neckline is edged with silk satin and fastens on the hip with a large silk satin bow and trailing sash.
Given by Gianni Versace(1985-2003) |
Credit line | Given by Signor Gianni Versace |
Object history | To mark being the subject of a Study Day at the V&A in 1985, designer Gianni Versace presented the Museum with a collection of his work, including this aluminium mesh dress which is the original 1984 versions of dresses which were worn by Princess Caroline of Monaco, the model and actor Candace Bergen, and the Italian pop singer Ornella Vanoni. |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.319-1985 |
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Record created | May 18, 2009 |
Record URL |
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