by Barry Hannah
First published 1995
This lavish fashion tome showcases Gianni Versace's revolutionary approach to menswear through the lenses of three legendary photographers. Bruce Weber, Richard Avedon, and Herb Ritts document the designer's colorful interpretation of masculine elegance, from seaside casual wear to sharp business attire in New York and Milan. The Versace aesthetic emerges through striking patterns, rich textures, and precise tailoring that projects confidence and modern sophistication. Celebrity clients including Jeremy Irons, Sting, Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Jeff Bridges, and K.D. Lang model the designer's creations, embodying the liberated masculine ideal that gives the book its title. The photography captures both the clothes and the attitude they inspire, revealing how Versace redefined what it means to dress like a contemporary man.
Genres: biography, art, photography, fashion
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, visual
Tropes: redefined-norms, visual-storytelling
Setting: New York, Milan
Period: 20th-century
274 pages · Hardcover · Abbeville Press