Brands
Versace
By the Encore Luxe specialists · Updated October 2026
Gianni Versace believed fashion should be bold, sensual and unashamedly glamorous. Drawing on the Baroque, on classical antiquity and on the colour of his native Calabria, he created a house that dressed rock stars and supermodels and became a byword for confidence. Its emblem, the Medusa, captures the spirit: a figure from myth whose gaze no one could resist. This guide introduces Versace, its signatures and what our specialists look at in a pre-loved piece.
Key facts
| Founded | 1978, Milan |
| Founder | Gianni Versace |
| Creative directors | Gianni Versace (1978–1997); Donatella Versace (1997–2025); Dario Vitale (from 2025) |
| Emblem | The Medusa |
| Signature details | Baroque prints, Greca key pattern, safety pins, bold colour, gold hardware |
| Lines | Versace, Versace Jeans Couture, Atelier Versace |
A short history
Gianni Versace grew up in Reggio Calabria, where his mother ran a dressmaking business. He moved to Milan in the early 1970s to work as a designer and, in 1978, presented his first collection under his own name. His designs were daring: metal mesh dresses, Baroque silk prints, leather and bondage-inspired details. In the late 1980s and 1990s he helped create the era of the supermodel, and his front rows were filled with celebrities.
The Versace Jeans Couture line, introduced in the 1980s, brought the house's energy to denim and casual clothing. In 1994 Elizabeth Hurley's black dress, held together by gold safety pins, became one of the most famous dresses of the decade. Gianni Versace was killed in 1997. His sister Donatella led the house for nearly three decades, developing its signatures for new generations.
The pieces most often asked about
- Baroque prints: ornate gold scrollwork, used on silks, leather goods and accessories. We currently have an embossed Baroque leather pouch in black.
- Medusa hardware: on bags, belts, shoes and jewellery.
- Greca: the Greek key pattern, used on borders and hardware.
- Versace Jeans Couture: denim and casual pieces. We currently have Versace Jeans Couture blue denim, size 6, from before 1997.
- La Medusa and Virtus bags: recent handbag designs.
Materials
Versace works in leather, often embossed or printed with Baroque or Greca patterns, and in silk, denim and metal mesh. Hardware is typically gold-toned, with Medusa and Greca motifs.
Choosing pre-loved Versace
Start with era. Pieces from the Gianni Versace years, before 1997, have a particular appeal for collectors, with their labels, cuts and prints. Later pieces reflect Donatella's vision and recent designs. We state the era where we can.
For clothing, look at measurements rather than label sizes alone, as vintage sizing often runs smaller. Check seams, zips and buttons, and for denim, look at the hems, pockets and knees. For leather goods, look at corners, edges and hardware. Our listings describe each piece precisely, with photographs.
What we look at in pre-loved Versace
Our specialists examine:
- Labels and tags: font, layout and content, consistent with the era.
- Material: leather, denim or silk of the expected quality.
- Prints and embossing: crisp and correctly aligned.
- Hardware: Medusa and Greca motifs, weight and finish.
- Construction: stitching, seams and finishing.
Read how we authenticate.
Caring for Versace
- Leather goods: store them in a dust bag, away from heat, and wrap hardware so it does not mark the leather.
- Embossed leather: wipe gently with a soft dry cloth; avoid oils that can flatten the embossing.
- Vintage denim: wash sparingly, inside out and cold, or have it cleaned professionally, and dry flat.
- Silk: dry-clean only.
Versace in a wardrobe
Versace is not a house for quiet days, but even its boldest designs can be worn with ease when balanced well. A Baroque-embossed pouch in black brings texture to a simple outfit; a pair of vintage Versace Jeans Couture denim adds a sense of 1990s confidence to a crisp shirt. Many people collect Versace for its prints and the energy of its Gianni-era pieces, while others reach for its accessories as an occasional flourish. Either way, a pre-loved piece carries the spirit of a house that never apologised for glamour.
Reading a Versace label
Versace labels have changed many times. Gianni-era pieces often carry labels with the Gianni Versace name, while Versace Jeans Couture pieces have their own distinctive tags. Later pieces carry the Versace name and the Medusa. Our specialists use labels, care tags and construction together to place a piece in its era.
The language of Versace
Medusa is the house emblem. Greca is the Greek key pattern. Baroque describes the ornate scrollwork prints. Versace Jeans Couture is the denim and casual line. Our glossary explains more.
Versace at Encore Luxe
See our Versace page for pieces currently available.
Related: Gucci · Balenciaga · How we grade condition
Encore Luxe is an independent retailer and is not affiliated with Versace.
Questions we’re often asked
- When was Versace founded?
Versace was founded in Milan in 1978 by Gianni Versace. After his death in 1997, his sister Donatella Versace became creative director.
- What is the Versace Medusa?
The Medusa, the snake-haired figure of Greek myth, is Versace's emblem. It appears on hardware, buttons, prints and labels.
- What is Versace Jeans Couture?
Versace Jeans Couture is the house's denim and casual line, introduced in the 1980s. Vintage pieces from the Gianni Versace era are especially sought after by collectors.
- How can I tell the era of a vintage Versace piece?
Labels, tags and construction changed over the decades, so our specialists use them to identify the approximate era of a piece. Each listing states the era where we can.