A major new Gianni Versace Retrospective comes to the UK for the first time this summer, opening at Arches London Bridge from 16th July 2025. Ticket Information.
Honouring the legacy of a designer who transformed the fashion world, the exhibition will feature the largest collection of vintage Gianni Versace designs ever to be displayed in the UK, with over 450 original vintage garments, accessories, personal sketches, interviews and photographs which showcase the designer’s craftsmanship, innovation, and unmistakable aesthetic.
This unique retrospective celebrates a visionary designer whose groundbreaking work catapulted the Versace brand to a level of great international success that has sustained for almost 30 years after his death. From opulent baroque prints to daring bondage designs, Gianni Versace’s visionary collections revolutionised fashion.
The Gianni Versace Retrospective is presented on a London stage for the first time at Arches London Bridge and reflects the many ways the city and its people inspired the designer’s work.
His closest friend was Elton John, already a hero of British pop music at the time, who famously owned every silk shirt by Gianni Versace; a collection of these iconic designs is now on display. Princess Diana became a close confidante and a symbol of reinvention, wearing his clothes. Looks, collections and documents that tell of these relationships feature throughout the retrospective.
COPYRIGHT © Peter Macdiarmid – Image only for editorial use in connection with Arches London Bridge Gianni Versace Retrospective Exhibition. London, UK. Photograph Peter Macdiarmid.
Similarly, the phenomenon of the supermodel was born in London, and Gianni Versace’s fashion icons included the London-born Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, with whom he created many of his legendary campaigns in collaboration with world-renowned photographers. Famously, George Michael’s chart-topping song ‘Freedom’ cast the “Supers” as they lip-synced the lyrics in both his music video and on Gianni’s catwalk.
Boldly reinvented every season, Gianni Versace’s designs are showcased in the exhibition through a vibrant chronology of looks on display from 21 collections (Spring/Summer 1988 – Autumn/Winter 1997-98). Original runway show footage, videos, magazines, and photographs, displayed alongside each other, underscore the rapid changes in aesthetics during these years.
As the exhibition looks back, it considers how the nostalgic appeal of the ’90s Versace aesthetic underpins our current understanding of identity, fame, and consumption today. From social media influencers to the resurgence of ’90s-inspired aesthetics, the obsession with personal reinvention and excess remains ever-present, where trends are rapidly recycled and reinterpreted.
Liz Koravos, Managing Director of Arches London Bridge, said, “Arches London Bridge is delighted to host this opulent journey through the life and career of Gianni Versace. As a genius of his time, it’s fascinating to see these incredible collections assembled under the curved arches of the venue. Gianni Versace ties to so much in modern culture, and his legacy is enduring, a mark of a talented designer. Versace was a pioneer in collaborative art, something that is commonplace these days. The crossover between fashion, music, pop culture, fine art, antiquities, sculpture and the rise of the supermodel is all encapsulated in his work. The biggest collection of vintage Versace to ever visit the UK will give visitors a kaleidoscopic view of the ’90s. It’s not to be missed.”
Curator Karl von der Ahe from Dreamrealizer comments, “Bringing this retrospective to London feels especially meaningful. Gianni Versace’s bold, unapologetic vision revolutionised fashion, and this city—so rich in creativity and cultural influence—provides the perfect stage to celebrate his legacy. We’re thrilled to share these iconic pieces in one of the world’s fashion capitals.”
This exhibition is made possible by the tireless efforts of private collectors who have been collecting his clothing for decades and preserving it for posterity. Among them are Antonio Caravano, Rossella Catapano, Franco Jacassi, Salvatore Alderuccio, Doris Brugger, and more.
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