{"id":10057,"date":"2015-02-19T20:32:13","date_gmt":"2015-02-19T19:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icon-vrai.loc\/2015\/02\/19\/the-versace-medusa\/"},"modified":"2020-10-21T00:12:45","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T22:12:45","slug":"the-versace-medusa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icon-icon.com\/en\/the-versace-medusa\/","title":{"rendered":"The Versace Medusa"},"content":{"rendered":"
Gianni Versace pored over Greek mythology to find inspiration for his brand\u2019s logo: Medusa and her snakes. It is said that Medusa was overly braggadocious about her beauty and her hair. And so out of punishment, or perhaps jealousy, a goddess transformed her seductive self into a nest of snakes that would turn anyone who crossed her into stone. And yet Versace\u2019s founder still chose to make her his emblem, even in his personal life. Medusa guarded the gates of his home, marked his flower pots, became a unique stamp of \u201cVersace\u201d-ness… But how could he have taken inspiration from a character with such negative connotations as his brand\u2019s logo? Perhaps it is because she is in every aspect a representation of the Versace woman. A woman so beautiful, so imposing, that all who look back upon her in passing will be petrified with jealousy. This woman uses her beauty and impertinence to provoke; she is the one we see, the one we look at. She holds the power in her hands to damn you in the blink of an eye. Medusa is the definition of Versace and its very essence. Mixtures of fabrics, colors, and muses… Even when she doesn\u2019t show up, her spirit is still there.<\/div>\n
According to the founder, Medusa incarnates fatal passion. Even today under the direction of Donatella, Medusa continues to grace Versace\u2019s creations. She adorns the flask of the brand\u2019s eponymous perfume, sunglasses collections, jewelry, leathergoods, stronger than ever. And so its only natural that her beauty and provocation can be found in the brand\u2019s powerful and decadent style. Often made of gold so we can see her, so she can be showed off… so we desire her. As Anna Wintour once said, \u201cVersace has always been the mistress to Armani\u2019s wife. We\u2019re often jealous of the mistress.\u201d Many eras have served as sources of inspiration for fashion designers, and the height of the Roman era continues to radiate around the world through Versace\u2019s style. Proof that one empire can inspire another. And so, while fashions come and go with their era, there is one that never left the Versace universe: Antiquity. Gianni Versace was long inspired by these centuries that left such a timeless mark on history, on architecture, and within art itself.<\/div>\n
But, Roman or Greek, these ancient inspirations are an integral part of Versace\u2019s DNA, and this is incarnated in the particular style we attribute to them. The brand\u2019s logo is the writing on the wall: Versace is synonymous with Antiquity. Sometimes, Medusa is accompanied or leaves room for the greca motifs that once adorned Athenian palaces. This symbol of infinity is also a recurrent motif in Versace\u2019s ready-to-wear styles. The brand also borrowed a pronounced taste for nudity from this civilization. In their ad campaigns, they don\u2019t hesitate to take inspiration from any and every work of art. And so, contemporary goddesses are surrounded by young Adonises and play Venus while decked out in Versace. Even 17 years after Gianni\u2019s death, his inspirations remain: gladiator skirts, belts, and togas continue to strut down the catwalk. And when it\u2019s not incandescent white, it\u2019s gildings with geometric shapes that bring their light to the creations, going from long fluid dresses to leather skirts and every piece in the male wardrobe in between. With Spartan sandals on their feet, these gladiators of Fashion Week bear witness to the infinity of an empire that continues to exist through the Italian spirit.<\/div>\n
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Versace\u2019s Medusa: Key dates<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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\n

1961<\/strong> : Gianni Versace works in his mother’s sartorial atelier in Reggio Calabria. The city has been a Greek colony and a Roman town and the Medusa<\/a> is a recurring symbol. He probably discovers it while playing with his siblings on an old Roman mosaic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1980s<\/strong> : In front of his house in Milan Gianni Versace<\/a> mentions a bas-relief portraying the Gorgon. He will choose it as a symbol of his maison and of his whole lifestyle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1981 <\/strong>: To those who criticize the choice of Medusa Gianni<\/a> replies: \u201cThat the Gorgon is just like his woman: aggressive and fatal, able to seduce you with a glance\u201d.<\/p>\n

1984<\/strong> : Versace designs the costumes for the ballet Dionysos<\/a> at Alla Scala theatre in Milan. References to the Grecian culture<\/a> are everywhere.<\/p>\n

1990s<\/strong> : The \u2018Supermodel Phenomenon\u2019<\/a> is born when Versace sends all the top models<\/a> down the catwalk for his 1991\/1992<\/a> collections for the Autumn\/Winter season. They all wear Medusa or have an haircut<\/a> inspired to the Gorgon.<\/p>\n

1991<\/strong> : The legendary Baroque collection<\/a> is born: Medusa<\/a> is a key symbol and even the supermodels are dressed like Grecian goddesses<\/a><\/p>\n

1991 – 1992<\/strong> : Versace designs the famous printed foulard<\/a> with four Medusa faces. Even the legendary ready-to-wear pop-art collection<\/a> is born under the sign of the Gorgon<\/p>\n

1991-1992 <\/strong>: The Gorgon dominates also in menswear<\/a>: male models<\/a> are like Grecian Gods<\/a> and Medusa<\/a> is their mistress<\/p>\n

1990s <\/strong>: Medusa becomes a \u201cmust\u201d of Versace. From haute couture to ready-to-wear the iconic symbol expands to each accessory<\/a>, including watches<\/a>, belts<\/a>, bags<\/a>, tableware<\/a>, eyewear<\/a>, jewels<\/a>, necklaces<\/a>, footwear<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1995<\/strong> : Madonna<\/a> becomes testimonial for Gianni Versace: even the pop star is seduced by the Gorgon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1993 \u2013 1997<\/strong> : Times are changing but the Medusa is still there. Each new collection \u2013 from the one in fetish<\/a>–leather<\/a> to the one with new materials<\/a> \u2013 or even some evergreen like the Oroton<\/a> dress<\/a> often display the Gorgon. The symbol will be present in Versace\u2019s last catwalks<\/a> too, right before his tragic death.<\/p>\n

2000s <\/strong>: The new millennium brings new trends. Under the guide of Donatella Versace<\/a> the Medusa is less present on the dresses<\/a> but even more present on the accessories<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2010s <\/strong>: Globalization revamps the iconic symbol of Medusa<\/a>. The Gorgon is always present in some way during the catwalks and many international stars, like Lady Gaga<\/a> in 2014, are seduced by her glance.<\/p>\n

2017<\/strong> : 20 years after the tragic death of Gianni Versace<\/a> all his historical supermodels and dresses are reunited for a huge catwalk<\/a> in Milan under the sign of the Gorgon<\/a>.
 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gianni Versace pored over Greek mythology to find inspiration for his brand\u2019s logo: Medusa and her snakes. It is said that Medusa was overly braggadocious about her beauty and her hair. 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