Gianni Versace ( Reggio Calabria , 2 December 1946 -- Miami Beach , Florida . 15 July 1997 ) was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Versace S.p.A. , an international fashion house . Gianni Versace ( December 2 , 1946 in Reggio Calabria -- July 15 , 1997 ) was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A. , an international fashion house , which produces accessories , fragrances , makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes .