Page 71 - MG Magazine

THE KEY TO HIS SUCCESS
Versace was one of the first dressmakers to work with top
models, who until then hadn´t paraded on catwalks but
starred in photographic sessions for the influential fashion
magazines. He was also a pioneer in the use of black leather
as part of his collections, an allegory of architecture, theatre
and ballet. He cultivated a casual and festive work envi-
ronment that was transmitted in his fashion shows where
his colourful and patterned designs caught all eyes. A style
and an elegance of its own that captivated the whole world.

Another key to his success was that Gianni Versace liked
very much the celebrities and the world of entertainment
and art, in its broadest version of the term. He dressed
Lady Di, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Cindy Crawford,
Naomi Campbell and Liz Hurley. With Gianni, fashion
shows ceased to be anonymous and began to be fre-
quented by the celebrity stars of the moment, boosting
the media projection of his fashion shows. In the end, he
himself was a star and that is why his loss was so notori-
ous, because he became a myth in life.

iconic looks of the 90´s

naomi campbell – gianni – christy turlington

THE CHRONOLOGY OF A HAUTE
COUTURE GENIUS
Gianni was born in Calabria, Italy, in 1946. His father, Anto-
nio, was a salesman and his mother, Francesca, a dressmak-
er. He grew up surrounded by canvases and sketches, and
much of his apprenticeship took place in the atelier of Sal-
vatore Chiodini and Ezio Nicosia. Couture quickly became
his means of artistic expression and in 1976 he launched
his own firm, Versace, flooding the catwalks with glamour,
sensuality and colour. In a few years, fashion surrendered at
his feet and they say that he didn´t even use sketches, since
he worked directly on the models' bodies. He built an em-
pire around creations that were characterized by their abil-
ity to redefine the limits of an industry that was still deeply
marked by tradition.

fotos de | photos: getty images