The Shrimpton Couture Archives

• This is a fantastic dress that dates to the 1990s
• It was made under the creative direction of Gianni Versace.
• In the 1980s and 1990s Gianni Versace ruled the catwalks. He was the favourite of the Supermodels and they were featured predominately in his runway shows and his ad campaigns.
• Versace launched his label in 1978 and by 1989 he presented a couture collection. The days that Gianni headed the label were heady, glamorous ones and set the tone for the label as we know it today. He remained at the helm until his death by assignation in 1997. Everyone wanted to own and wear a Versace.
• This is a dress that is extremely simple in cut but every line is done with purpose to highlight and shape the body. It is also a dress that really needs a body in it to truly come to life. I think it looks pretty great on my dress form but it is going to be even better once it is on an actual body.
• The fabric that it is made out of is light in weight and holds its shape well. It is a stretch fabric that is going to shape itself around the body. It has the feel of a swimsuit fabric.
• The bodice has inner padding so you don't need to wear anything underneath. The fabric is draped loosely over that inner structure to create the gathers around the bodice that you see in the photos. Straps curve around the arms and up and over the shoulders. 
• The waist is seamed at the front and then is open and exposed from the sides all the way around to the back. The way that it is cut allows it to dip and curve down slightly at the back.
• The open back is phenomenal. Little loops in the same fabric sit on each side of the opening of the back and then a piped strap in the same fabric is attached to the straps at the back. You crisscross them down through the loops and tie them for a fully open back with a lace up finish.
• The rest of the dress is as minimal as possible. Seams have been set in a curving line down each side and then there is one that runs down the back to create an hourglass shape around you. 
• The skirt falls to below the knee to mid-calf, depending on your height, and there is a high slit on one side of the skirt so that you get a flash of leg when you walk. 
• It is the ultimate simple and sexy dress
• The dress is lined in a second layer of the same fabric with built-in padding through the bust area. There is a little hole on either side for you to be able to remove the padding, again much like a swimsuit. The skirt is unlined. The dress slips on to wear with no closures and the back laces as seen. The fabric stretches into place around you. The stretch fabric will allow it to fit a range of sizes and I have put the comfortable range of measurements below.
• Tagged a vintage Versace 42
• Excellent condition
  

Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Waist: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam, but meant to dip a bit at the back so that is why it is cut slightly more generously.
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" to the seam under the bust
Total length: 47" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: 17" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

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