.jpg)
Last month in Milan, there was a celebration of a legendary life lost way too early. Donatella Versace staged her Spring 2018 show as a tribute to her late brother Gianni, complete with a supermodel reunion and a collection of clothes that nodded back to some of his most iconic designs. It’s been 20 years since his untimely death, and now, just weeks after Donatella’s moving homage on the runway, others can actually own a piece of Versace history. Farfetch has partnered with London’s William Vintage to sell a collection of 500 original Gianni Versace designs. The pieces span 20 years, from his earliest work in 1977 to his final collection for Fall 1997. There will be jackets and skirts from the 1991 Andy Warhol–inspired “Pop” collection, coats and dresses from the Fall 1992 “bondage” collection, and much more.
“There are so many very rare pieces within this collection,” William Banks-Blaney, the founder of William Vintage, tells Vogue. “There are the 1992 harness dresses from the ‘Bondage’ collection and Gianni’s spectacular Oroton metal pieces, which are among the most important.” He notes that this dress was first featured in Vogue in 1983, photographed by Helmut Newton. The only other known example is archived in the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. According to Banks-Blaney, the collection “has been built from stylists, models, and devoted fans of Gianni Versace.” He adds, “This is the largest and most comprehensive collection of Gianni Versace ever to be offered for sale. As an example, the Met Gala honoring Gianni held 187 pieces.” Banks-Blaney cites the “punk” collection as his very favorite, but is quick to point out that everything in this sale is, “still every bit as joyous and relevant today.”
Here, a first look at the William Vintage and Farfetch collection of Gianni Versace’s masterpieces.