Versace
Versace became known for his glamorous styles, producing a range of siren dresses that became his trademark. He often using innovative materials such as aluminum mesh or cutting-edge techniques like “neo-couture” laser technology to fuse leather and rubber. The head of Medusa was also a recurring image on many of his clothing items and accessories. He launched his first couture collection in 1989 and added two clothing lines, Versus and Instante, to his business in the ’90s. One of his most famous creations for the black dress held together at the sides by gold safety pins worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1994. The dress helped make Hurley a star. Versace developed strong relationships with a number of stars and supermodels, including Elton John, Madonna and Naomi Campbell. As Anna Wintour told The New York Times, Versace “was the first to realize the value of celebrity in the front row, and the value of the supermodel, and put fashion on an international media platform.” In addition to clothing, the designer expanded his brand into other directions.