Gianni Versace Atelier labelled, the ground covered entirely with cut beads, the words worked in dazzling rhinestones and colourful beads, asymmetric, fringed hem, bust approx 86cm, 34in, waist 66cm, 26in
Atelier Versace Couture FW 1989 beaded 'Java Forever' dress
This dress is based on an original design by Gianni Versace of a stage costume for Zizi Jeanmaire for the dance production 'Java Forever' at the Bouffes du Nord in Paris, 1988. The example she wore for that production is ex-lot 487, 'Roland Petit & Zizi Jeanmaire: Un patrimoine pour la danse', Christie's, 6th April 2022. Versace then included this design, with the addition of a high-necked velvet collar, in his Autumn-Winter 1989-90 ready-to-wear collection, and his first-ever couture collection for that same season. Supermodel Gail Elliott is photographed by Bruce Weber wearing an identical example,1989, and it can be seen photographed on the runway in 'Versace Catwalk' by Thames & Hudson, p.124.
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