Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, in southern Italy. Versace received his love of fashion and early dressmaking lessons from his mother.

Initially, Versace trained as an architect, but soon followed his mother into the fashion business. Versace worked for several major Italian fashion houses, but in 1978, with the help of his brother Santo, he launched his own label.

Versace was a great fashion pioneer who combined the worlds of high style and pop culture. He was a charismatic and accomplished stage costume and costume designer.

Versace appreciated a variety of historical costumes which he incorporated into his designs and was heavily influenced by Andy Warhol and modern abstract art.

Wow! Best describes the fashion designed by Gianni Versace. He was known for designing garments that shocked and startled our senses. Versace saw his design as an art form. He pioneered clothing that was visually excessive and provocative, fashions that challenged accepted codes of taste, beauty, and sexuality.

Fashion became entertainment, to be watched and admired, not simply worn. Nothing was too extravagant, too crazy or too risky for Versace. However, no matter how extravagant or provocative Versace’s clothes were, they were always surprisingly well-designed garments designed to flatter the body.

Versace was the designer of choice for many of the rich and famous: pop stars like Elton John and Madonna; movie stars like Will Smith and Elizabeth Hurley and even royalty: Princess Diana.

The rich were drawn to her clothing like magnets, and that enhanced her reputation. However, Vercasse did not simply design for the wealthy, his clothing was available to the average person.

In 1985 he launched the Instant label in 1985; and after years as Gianni’s muse, her sister Donatella became her co-designer and launched Versace’s diffusion range, Versus, in 1989.

These labels featured clothing within the budgets of many consumers; not only were they priced lower than custom-made clothing, but they were also aimed at younger markets.

In 1988 Versace received the Cutty Sark Award as “the world’s most innovative and creative designer”; and in 1993 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded him the Oscar for American Fashion.

On July 15, 1997, Versace was shot and killed outside his South Beach home in Miami, Florida, by a crazed gunman named Andrew Cunanan. Since his untimely death in 1997, the Versace fashion house continues to grow under the creative leadership of his sister Donatella and the business acumen of his brother Santo. Donatella’s daughter, Allegra, inherited 50% of the company last summer when she turned 18. However, Donatella is still very much in charge.

The days of the dewy look, shocking pink PVC, and all the glitter and meat a runway can handle are long gone. The new Versace is growing. “I’m not blind,” says Donatella. “I know most women don’t look like models.

We had to start addressing other parts of a woman’s life. The fashion business is a very different place than when Gianni started the brand.” Donatella’s mind is very much on Versace’s continued success.

With Donatella at the helm and Santo and Allegra by her side, the Versace product lines continue to grow and develop with fabulous designs unveiled for the Spring 2005 season. The proof is in Versace’s spring fashion line – check it out! glance!

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/05/spring/runway/versace/

http://www.milanfashionshows.com/spring2005/versace/photos.htm

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2005RTW/review/VERSACE