Versace Barocco, Greca and Every Current Print Explained

Versace’s two defining prints are Barocco, the gold baroque scroll born for the 1991 runway, and the Greca, the Greek key border that frames the Medusa. Around them sit seasonal prints such as ‘The Sun’, ‘Teatro’ and ‘Medusa Collage’. Shop them in our Versace edit and in silk scarves, then read the Versace Medusa logo meaning.

• Barocco was born in 1991 for that year’s runway and became a house signature.
• Donatella Versace revived Barocco for Spring Summer 2018, the Gianni tribute collection.
• The Greca is the Greek key, also called the meander, and it frames the Medusa.
• Versace adopted the Medusa head as its trademark around 1993.
• The jungle print dress came from Spring Summer 2000.
• Versace printed silk twill scarves in 90 cm cost USD 820 at Coveti.

What is the Versace Barocco print?

Barocco is Versace’s baroque print: gold scrolls and ornament in the spirit of Italian baroque decoration. Gianni Versace created it for the 1991 runway, and it became a house signature. It is what most people picture when they think of the Versace baroque print.

The print had a second life in Spring Summer 2018. For the collection that paid tribute to Gianni, Donatella brought Barocco back to the runway. The same show ended with a reunion of supermodels from his Autumn Winter 1991 show. Our profile of Donatella Versace covers that era.

Today Barocco comes in several versions. The classic print appears on the Printed Silk Shirt in Black and Print and on the pleated silk twill mini skirt. ‘New Barocco’ arrives in white and gold and in purple and gold. ‘Neoclassical Barocco’ is softer, in grey with black and grey with pink. Barocco also turns up as a jacquard on the Greca canvas sneakers.

What is the Versace Greca, the Greek key?

The Greca is the Greek key, a continuous meander border taken from classical Greek ornament. At Versace it does a specific job: it frames the Medusa head on the logo. That pairing ties the house to the Greek myth behind the Medusa and to the ancient ruins of Reggio Calabria, where Gianni was born in 1946.

The Greca works more as a border than a print. You see it on Greca earrings and rings, on the Greca Goddess belts and in the names of watches such as the La Greca Stud Icon. On clothing, ‘The Meandros’ print takes the meander as its subject. Versace also sells named lines called La Greca and Greca. The Versace belts guide covers the Greca Goddess buckles.

What was the Versace jungle print?

The jungle print is the green print on the silk chiffon dress from Versace Spring Summer 2000. Jennifer Lopez wore it to the 42nd Grammy Awards on 23 February 2000, after Geri Halliwell had worn it. Eric Schmidt of Google wrote that it led to Google Image Search. Lopez closed the Spring Summer 2020 show in a reworked version in September 2019.

The jungle print is not in the current collection. Its lesson still applies: a Versace print is designed to be seen from across a room. The full story is in our article on the Jennifer Lopez Versace dress.

Which Versace prints are in the current collection?

Every season adds new named prints. These are the ones you will find at Coveti now.

• ‘The Sun’: yellow and pink, on silk twill dresses, cotton and silk voile cover-ups and swimwear.
• ‘Hangin’ Out’: a white ground print on silk twill minis, scarves and a wool and silk shawl. Some pieces spell it ‘Hanging’ Out’.
• ‘Teatro’: on a silk twill shirt, a 90 cm scarf, a silk ribbon and the Vivian canvas tote.
• ‘Medusa Collage’: on 90 cm and 55 cm silk twill scarves.
• ‘Floating By’: on a 90 cm silk twill scarf.
• ‘Broken Jewels’ and ‘Stolen Jewels’: on silk twill minis, midis and shirts.
• ‘Seasonal Floral’: on a silk duchesse mini dress and a matching mini skirt.
• ‘Medusa Moneta’: on a pink cotton-jersey T-shirt.

The silk twill scarf is the easiest way to try a new print. At USD 820 for the 90 cm square, it costs a fraction of a printed dress. See the cotton side of the print story in our Versace shirts guide.

How do you wear Versace print?

Pick one print and let it lead. Two Versace prints in one outfit fight each other, unless they come from the same print, as with a Barocco shirt and matching skirt. Pull one colour from the print and repeat it in your shoes and bag.

Gold is the safest partner because the Medusa hardware is usually gold. Black is the next. A ‘New Barocco’ midi with black sandals reads polished. A ‘The Sun’ long dress with flat gold sandals reads holiday. For a smaller dose, knot a printed scarf at the neck of a white shirt, tie a silk ribbon to a bag handle and keep the rest plain. Browse designer dresses for the full-length versions.

Shop the edit

1. Printed Silk Shirt in Black and Print, USD 2,170. Classic Barocco; wear it with black tailoring.
2. Printed Silk Twill Pleated Mini Skirt in Black and Print, Ref. 1000829, USD 2,650. Barocco pleats to pair with the shirt as a set.
3. Printed Silk Twill Midi Dress in White and Gold, USD 4,230. ‘New Barocco’ in a fit and flare midi.
4. Printed Silk Twill Scarf 90 cm in Teatro Print, USD 820. Knot it at the neck of a white shirt.
5. Printed Silk Twill Scarf 90 cm in Medusa Collage Print, USD 820. Tie it to a black bag for instant colour.
6. Printed Silk Twill Scarf 90 cm in Floating By Print, USD 820. Wear it as a headscarf on holiday.
7. Printed Silk Twill Long Dress in Yellow and Pink, USD 4,840. ‘The Sun’ print with flat gold sandals.
8. Printed Silk Twill Mini Dress in White and Hangin’ Out Print, USD 2,800. A short-sleeved shirt mini for summer days.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Versace Barocco print?

Barocco is Versace’s gold baroque scroll print. Gianni Versace created it for the 1991 runway, and it became a house signature. Donatella Versace revived it for the Spring Summer 2018 collection that paid tribute to Gianni. Current versions include ‘New Barocco’ and ‘Neoclassical Barocco’.

What is the Versace Greca?

The Greca is the Greek key, a continuous meander border from classical Greek ornament. Versace uses it to frame the Medusa head in its logo, and on jewellery, belts and watches. The house sells named lines called La Greca and Greca.

When did Versace start using the Medusa?

Versace was founded in Milan in 1978, but the house used Gianni Versace’s name as its logo for years. It adopted the Medusa head as its trademark around 1993. The Medusa logo does not date from 1978.

What are the current Versace prints?

Current Versace prints at Coveti include ‘The Sun’, ‘Hangin’ Out’ and ‘Teatro’. You will also find ‘Medusa Collage’ and ‘Floating By’ on silk scarves. ‘Broken Jewels’ and ‘Stolen Jewels’ appear on silk twill shirts and dresses. Barocco continues in ‘New Barocco’ and ‘Neoclassical Barocco’ versions on silk twill shirts, dresses and scarves.

What is the cheapest way to wear a Versace print?

A printed silk twill accessory is the easiest entry. At Coveti, a Versace silk twill ribbon costs USD 410, a 55 cm scarf costs USD 490 and a 90 cm scarf costs USD 820. Each carries a full house print such as ‘Teatro’.