Gianni Versace’s talents spread far and wide, like that of a true renaissance man. His interests and influences determined theatre costume designs, celebrities’ stardom, architecture and home interior design.
A passion for costume design for theatres and opera houses
Seeing fashion as a theatre set, a fantasy life of opulent sensuality, he collaborated with the Scala Opera House in Milan as well as the Teatro Piccolo, creating costumes for memorable shows, including Gustav Mahler’s “Lieb und Leid” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale”. His costume designs revitalised the world of opera and made huge waves in the world of classical music.
A star amongst celebrities
By choosing to focus on a few high-end models for his campaigns, Versace single-handedly created the supermodel phenomenon that swept through the 80s and 90s. He was friends with most of the celebrities of his time. Bruce Springsteen celebrated his wedding in Gianni’s house and Versace designed costumes and sets for Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Elton John, amongst others.
A love for architecture and the celebrated Versace Mansion in Miami
Also known as Casa Casuarina, he had fallen in love with the place on his way to a trip to Cuba with his life partner Antonio D’Amico. While passing by it on Ocean Drive, Gianni stopped to admire a bronze statue, called Kneeling Aphrodite, he saw in front of the house. He immediately was beguiled by it and proceeded to purchase and restore it at great expense, including adding a mosaic of Medusa, making it his new home.
The expansion to home interiors
Like a true Renaissance artist, Gianni Versace was not to be contained in the limited realm of fashion. With his passion for architecture, it was no surprise when in 1992 the House of Versace moved to designing home interiors, first experimenting with textile and dinnerware and then moving to lighting and wallpapers. Versace's wallpaper collections featuring several of his iconic patterns have been widely used to decorate boutiques, chic hotel lobbies and opulent residences.