Saturday 30 June 2012
Fashion Knowledge: Long Live Versace @ 00:28
Today's fashion history (and fashion present) lesson is on the genius and legacy behind the ultimate glitzy fashion house, Gianni Versace.
Remember Versace?
Yep, this was it! The famous Versace dress that not only solidified Jennifer Lopez's glam sex appeal on the red carpet, but an out-of-the-box approach to fashion!
Seeing the Gianni Versace label in all it's glamour and luxury today, it's hard to believe that the designer that created the label had a rickety start. Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1946. An aspiring couturier, he moved to Milan in 1972 and worked for multiple companies as a freelance designer. It wasn't until March 28th, 1978 did he launch his own label at the Palazzo della Permanente in Milan. With his sister Donatella as his muse and model, his brother Santo handling the business portion of the label and his brother-in-law Paul Beck supporting him to the fullest, Versace, was a family business that would be a powerful fashion force.
Gianni Versace's headstrong attitude and persistent fashion ideals was a prominent part of the 1990s. With him at the reigns of the fashion industry, Versace brought sex, over-the-top glamour and publicity to fashion. His wearers included the most popular rock-and-roll musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Prince, Eric Clapton and George Michael. He also won the likes of supermodels, the world's most famous stars and Diana, the Princess of Wales. Elton John even wore Versace dresses for The Sunday TImes in a spoof of Versace's previous advertising campaigns.
The first Gianni Versace haute couture fashion show was in 1990, in Paris at the famous Ritz hotel. Only success followed that major move. The designer had the world at his feet, making a turnover of 600 billion lire. Although his vision for fashion was a driving might, he was earnest, telling Women's Wear Daily in 1990, "In Italy, I cannot compete with anybody. There are only three designers who give me the energy to fight - Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld."
Gianne Versace was shot outside his Miami Beach mansion and tragically killed on July 15th, 1997. He was designing a collection with his sister Donatella Versace, and after his death, Donatella mustered up the courage to carry on and finish the collection. Donatella was given her own line, Versus, in 1989 because Gianni wanted a different, more edgier and youthful perspective. Having been working in that high-octane fashion house since almost right after its conception, Donatella Versace took over as the house's creative director after Gianni's death. She has since worked tirelessly to keep the fashion industry flashy and fearless. Even to this day, she strengthens Versace's unique fashion vision, keeps collection distinguished and ensures that the family business remains front and centre as it has for decades.
Versace's signature style is always present in every piece, no matter the collection. The monomers of the Versace collections have glitter, slink, boldness and a mixture of curve incorporated into it. They represent a those with a look-at-me attitude; for elites or women and men who embody the lifestyles of the fabulous to don. Described by Donatella herself in the 2012 Style Icons issue of Hello! Canada, "Versace is about the sophisticated woman who is elegant, not afraid of her own sensuality and not afraid to dare or take risks in life."
Versace and Atelier Versace Fall/Winter Couture 2012
Donatella now has the reigns and with Versace's legacy as the backbone of the business, this fashion house thrives beyond compare.
Labels: Fashion History and Knowledge
Saturday 30 June 2012
Fashion Knowledge: Long Live Versace @ 00:28
Today's fashion history (and fashion present) lesson is on the genius and legacy behind the ultimate glitzy fashion house, Gianni Versace.
Remember Versace?
Yep, this was it! The famous Versace dress that not only solidified Jennifer Lopez's glam sex appeal on the red carpet, but an out-of-the-box approach to fashion!
Seeing the Gianni Versace label in all it's glamour and luxury today, it's hard to believe that the designer that created the label had a rickety start. Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1946. An aspiring couturier, he moved to Milan in 1972 and worked for multiple companies as a freelance designer. It wasn't until March 28th, 1978 did he launch his own label at the Palazzo della Permanente in Milan. With his sister Donatella as his muse and model, his brother Santo handling the business portion of the label and his brother-in-law Paul Beck supporting him to the fullest, Versace, was a family business that would be a powerful fashion force.
Gianni Versace's headstrong attitude and persistent fashion ideals was a prominent part of the 1990s. With him at the reigns of the fashion industry, Versace brought sex, over-the-top glamour and publicity to fashion. His wearers included the most popular rock-and-roll musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Prince, Eric Clapton and George Michael. He also won the likes of supermodels, the world's most famous stars and Diana, the Princess of Wales. Elton John even wore Versace dresses for The Sunday TImes in a spoof of Versace's previous advertising campaigns.
The first Gianni Versace haute couture fashion show was in 1990, in Paris at the famous Ritz hotel. Only success followed that major move. The designer had the world at his feet, making a turnover of 600 billion lire. Although his vision for fashion was a driving might, he was earnest, telling Women's Wear Daily in 1990, "In Italy, I cannot compete with anybody. There are only three designers who give me the energy to fight - Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld."
Gianne Versace was shot outside his Miami Beach mansion and tragically killed on July 15th, 1997. He was designing a collection with his sister Donatella Versace, and after his death, Donatella mustered up the courage to carry on and finish the collection. Donatella was given her own line, Versus, in 1989 because Gianni wanted a different, more edgier and youthful perspective. Having been working in that high-octane fashion house since almost right after its conception, Donatella Versace took over as the house's creative director after Gianni's death. She has since worked tirelessly to keep the fashion industry flashy and fearless. Even to this day, she strengthens Versace's unique fashion vision, keeps collection distinguished and ensures that the family business remains front and centre as it has for decades.
Versace's signature style is always present in every piece, no matter the collection. The monomers of the Versace collections have glitter, slink, boldness and a mixture of curve incorporated into it. They represent a those with a look-at-me attitude; for elites or women and men who embody the lifestyles of the fabulous to don. Described by Donatella herself in the 2012 Style Icons issue of Hello! Canada, "Versace is about the sophisticated woman who is elegant, not afraid of her own sensuality and not afraid to dare or take risks in life."
Versace and Atelier Versace Fall/Winter Couture 2012
Donatella now has the reigns and with Versace's legacy as the backbone of the business, this fashion house thrives beyond compare.
Labels: Fashion History and Knowledge
Hello Darlings.
My name's Essie and it's a pleasure to meet you.
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Let's start off this "about" page with the most common details.
My name is Essie and I am a 17-year-old fashion blogger/fashion enthusiast.
My style inspirations and life role models include (and in no particular order): Mary Kate Steinmiller, Nicole Richie, Chloe Grace Moretz, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Tom Ford, Tavi Gevinson, Grace Coddington, and of course, my fellow style bloggers!
I am a girl who's in love with contrasting, ironic ideas. It shows in my preferences: I like polka dots and stripes, country music and rap, feminism and chivalry, dragon boating and running...
I'm the girl who finds herself aimlessly on the web for countless hours, clicking and searching for sweet style tips, ensemble ideas or following reckless fashion rebels daily.
Needless to say, I aspire to one day find myself working in the ever-changing fashion industry.
Right now, I'm trying to grab every opportunity that I can possibly get my hands on. I'm trying out fashion design, fashion industry, fashion shows, and the journalism aspect in the magazines, but what I really hope to do in the future is fashion merchandising and marketing. Sure, it's a tough world and I'm bound to encounter challenges, but it's the constant revolutions of the fashion industry that keeps me within fashion's grasp.
Perhaps it's a weakness, but I tend to be a busybody, jumping into new projects frequently but I'm passionate about the things I do and strive to work hard at it until it's as perfect as it needs to be. That's one of the reasons I created this blog; I needed a place to dump all my fashion-related projects and education in. Another reason for conceiving this blog was to find my own style. The things I like are always changing, so I hope that through this blog, I can find a base. Let's hope this works and helps me get somewhere!
