Gianni Versace F/W 1988 Black Floral-Painted Ruched Evening Dress

From the F/W 1988 collection of Gianni Versace, this evening dress exemplifies the house's command of bold decorative gesture on a restrained silhouette. Cut in a fitted, body-conscious line, it features a round neckline, short cap sleeves, and vertical seaming through the bodice that tapers neatly to the hip. The lower portion of the dress is dramatically gathered and ruched, with fabric caught into a knot-like formation at the side that creates sculptural volume against the otherwise sleek upper half; a narrow side vent at the hem allows ease of movement. A centre-back concealed zip provides the sole closure. The defining element is a programme of large-scale botanical motifs rendered directly on the ground fabric: to the front, a yellow rose with teal foliage sits at the upper chest, whilst a coral-pink carnation with green stem appears at the lower hem; to the back, a substantial purple-mauve peony in full bloom with teal leaves spans the right shoulder blade. The painterly, trompe-l'œil quality of the florals — each rendered with careful tonal gradation — reads as applied artwork rather than print, animating the matte black ground with vivid chromatic contrast.

Size L (IT44/FR40) — Italian size 46 per original label.
shoulders : 58 cm ; pit to pit : 46 cm ; length : 110 cm

Vintage condition.

SKU: TV-160854