Versace
Gianni Versace's Milanese house, defined by the Medusa head. Tags that still read 'Gianni Versace' and the motif-bordered black labels mark the pre-2000 era.
- Origin
- Italy
- Founded
- 1978
- Category
- High Fashion
- Documented eras
- 5
How Versace labels evolved over time. Match the markers below against the tag in hand to place a garment in its era.
1970–1979
Earliest 'Gianni Versace' Tags
The earliest tags use the first thin, elegant wordmark on large white rectangles with the logo and country of production sewn in.
- Earliest tags would have used the first logo, which is clearly distinguishable from its successors
- The tags are large white rectangles with the logo and country of production information sewn in
- Versace has a long history of manufacturing in Italy, and these has frequently been referenced on the tags over the years
How to spot it
The thin early wordmark on a large white sewn-in tag.
Value signal
Rare; pre-1980 Versace is genuine collector territory.
1980–1989
Bordered Black-and-White Tags
Early-80s tags changed little, but the mid-80s brought bigger rectangles with designed borders in interchanging black and white; Versace Jeans Couture appears late in the decade.
- Tags from the first half of the 1980s did not change much as can be seen in the top row of tags below
- However, in the mid-1980s, an update to the shape of tags was implemented, making them bigger rectangles with designed borders
- The tags were black and white, interchangeably using the two shades for the background and foreground
- As the bottom right tag demonstrates, sub-brands like Versace Jeans Couture started becoming more commonly found in the late 1980s going into the 1990s
How to spot it
A bordered black-or-white tag, often 'Gianni Versace'.
Value signal
Strong; 80s Gianni-era Versace is highly sought.
1990–1999
Motif-Bordered Black Tags
Tags transitioned away from 'Gianni', toward simply 'Versace'; most became black, many with motif-decorated borders.
- During this time the tags started to transition away from referencing Gianni, instead opting for simply ‘Versace’
- Some would still say Gianni and use old logos, such as the women’s couture line, however, this was less common
- Most of the tags became black many of which had borders decorated with a motif style
How to spot it
A black tag with a decorative motif border.
Value signal
Strong; 90s Versace is a peak-demand era.
2000–2009
Medusa Emblem Black Tags
The motif-border style grew rare; the Medusa emblem took over on completely black tags carrying only the logo, with detail moved to extra tags.
- Versace tags in the 2000s still occasionally used the old design of having the text with a motif border, especially on the new Versus line, however, this became much rarer in this decade
- Instead, the new Medusa emblem started to be used
- The tags became completely black, with only the logo on them
- Other information such as country of production would be included on extra tags either behind the neck tag or at the waist
How to spot it
An all-black tag with the Medusa emblem.
Value signal
Common; condition- and authentication-driven.
2010–2019
Thin-Font Medusa Tags
Modern tags use a slightly thinner font, frequently with the Medusa emblem beside it; Versace Jeans Couture is a dominant line.
- Modern 2010s Versace tags tend to use a slightly thinner font
- They also frequently use the Medusa emblem next to the font
- Versace Jeans Couture and Versace Jeans are two of the most popular lines nowadays
How to spot it
A thinner font with the Medusa emblem alongside.
Value signal
Modern; priced on the piece.