As new generations come into finding their niches in fashion, younger people might not remember who what where when’s behind fashion labels. We might know that Gianni Versace was an influential designer, but not why. Maybe not because our vision of his empire are clouded with the clothes of his sister, but because now ten years ago since his passing, it could be difficult for anyone to remember. I don’t think I could.

Here is another book I found Gianni Versace by Richard Martin (there are several copies floating around Amazon.com) chronicles the highlights of Versace’s fashion career through a museum curated collection of his designs (and there are plenty to feast on, I think just over 100 pages). You will get the background information on him, but on the inspiration and reason for the clothes. Much of it has a story.

I was losing light by the time I took these pictures, so some might be off…sorry in advance, there’s quite a few.

The captions oddly describe how this dress is widely known to be the dress that Elizabeth Hurley wore

It’s amazing to see how something like this, studded jacket and dress look so much like some of the things from the Burberry Prorsum that is out right now – except this is more like the inspiration GV did it first!

Mixing animal prints

There are a few pieces with so much juxtaposition, there is the dressing up of the woman, then simultaneously dressing her down with denim, which used to be heralded at super casual.

There is a huge influence through Byzantine designs, this showcases that perfectly

A chain link dress is very bold

This dress is like wearing a church

These next three do look like they could come out of Donatella’s catwalk

Proenza Schouler/Christopher Kane eat your hearts out. These dresses much have been your inspirations

If you have any doubts, look at the fine and delicate stitching

This is the Frankenstein dude, I don’t know what’s up with him. Because on top of being leather clad, he’s also studded.

Gareth Pugh much?

This dress is so intricately beaded it is ridiculous! I only wish my camera had been able to focus

Mixing fabric and plastic

Here lies the homage to Vogue

These next two are theater dresses (who knew he did that too?), and it is obvious by how dramatic and huge they are. Voluminous and layer after layer.

The legacy in a designer lays in being able to hold inspiration even after [sadly] passing. Gianni Versace’s legacy holds strong.