Tim Gunn: Gianni Versace was a "trailblazer" in fashion and life | Forensic Files

How would you describe Versace's vision or his style? Versace is, as is the case with all of fashion,
he he comes from a time and a place. Fashion is very different from clothes because fashion happens in a context and
it's societal, it's historic, it's cultural, it's economic, and it's political. Versace, I think, was all in
favor of removing the shackles. And that was new at the time. That was very new.
clothes were, I would say, fairly stayed, fairly predictable. And when Johnny Versace appeared on the scene, it
he woke everyone up. He was a trailblazer. And also, he brought an entirely new dimension to the fashion
show by doing something that today we just take for granted, but at the time it was rather controversial. What was
that? He put celebrities in the front row of his shows. And suddenly there was this buzz and this excitement about a
Versace show that went went beyond the editorial pages of fashion magazines. And that was that was never done before.
Well, it may have been, but he put it on steroids. I was going to say that must have driven the other designers crazy.
Well, yeah. I mean, of course, they all followed suit. He really understood the power of celebrities. And was that for
sizzle or for sales? Well, Richard, it had to be for both. Um, but it was certainly for sizzle and there was a lot
of sizzle. Versace shows were so captivating that I can't believe you could sit front row and not want to own
one. What effect did his murder have on the industry? I just remember thinking this is a tragic loss. He should still
be alive and with us. And what's next for the Versace brand? and and I just I pictured it being shuttered. I don't
even know that I had an awareness of Donatella Versace at that time. Um and and suddenly she rose like a phoenix.
And for the Versace brand, of course, we know it it carried on. It continued 20 years now after his death, history has
affirmed that he has a very significant place in the fashion chronicles.

"Project Runway" mentor Tim Gunn discusses the life and legacy of famed fashion designer Gianni Versace, whose life was cut short by spree killer Andrew Cunanan 20 years ago this July. Correspondent Richard Schlesinger investigates the trail that led to Versace's death in an all-new "48 Hours" airing Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

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--- "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. For 27 seasons, "48 Hours" has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Check local listings for "48 Hours" broadcast times.

Brief Summary

Gianni Versace revolutionized fashion shows with celebrity presence, and his legacy endures after his tragic murder.

Key points

Versace's Revolutionary Impact. Versace transformed fashion by bringing celebrities to the forefront of his shows.
The Aftermath of a Tragedy. Versace's murder left a significant void in the fashion industry, leading to uncertainty.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

He woke everyone up.

Describing Versace's impact on the fashion scene.

0:34WatchMay 19, 2017

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