Donatella Versace has been the creative director of the fashion house Versace for decades, taking on the role after the murder of her brother Gianni Versace in 1997. Over the years, Versace has taken what her brother made and expanded it into an empire of her own. Although this is the end of the road for Versace as the creative eyes behind the iconic brand, she will still have a place as chief brand ambassador. The Versace brand will continue to share with the fashion community its iconic designs and innovations, further transforming what fashion is.
Her most iconic moments
Jennifer Lopez pivotal green dress moment
- In 2000, Versace tailored a green dress to A-List celebrity Jennifer Lopez that became an instant cultural phenomenon and set the fashion world ablaze. The dress is said to have led to the creation of Google image search as demand to see photos of the dress online surged. This look was so iconic that Versace and Lopez recreated it with a more modern twist at the Versace Women’s Spring-Summer 2020 Collection fashion show.
A class reunion
- Versace is known for its timeless, unique and masterful looks, which are amplified by the supermodels who showcase these looks to the world on and off the runways. At the 2017 Milan Fashion Week, Versace honored her brother with a tribute show involving five of the brand’s original models, like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, whose faces will forever hold meaning to the legacy of Versace.
Met Gala moments
- The runways and fashion campaigns are not where Versace’s creative craft stops. One of her biggest moments is the first Monday in May every year: the Met Gala. At the Met Gala, Versace gets to showcase her brand’s extravagant, powerful creativity through jaw-dropping outfits. From Kim Kardashian’s 2019 rain-drop look to Blake Lively’s 2018 gold and ruby gown masterpiece to Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s 2019 vibrant purple and orange feather looks, Versace’s creative vision has been shown in so many ways.
Inclusivity and diversity
- A big part of Versace’s leadership role was the importance she placed on inclusivity and diversity in her work. Versace wanted the brand to amplify all body types, cultural backgrounds and gender identities. She has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, especially in Italy, and her 2021 Spring-Summer Collection show marked the first time Versace cast plus-sized models.
New creative director
Starting April 1, a new face will take over as creative director for Versace, continuing the legacy of Gianni and Donatella Versace while also making it something of his own. Dario Vitale, former design director of Miu Miu, will be the first outside the Versace family to take over the creative vision of the fashion brand. Born in Naples, Italy, Vitale began his career working at Bottega Veneta after graduating from Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy. Vitale later began a path at Miu Miu, where he worked his way up to design director. Now, at 42 years old, he is the creative eyes and ears of Versace.
