News from Italy
Donatella Versace is stepping down as Versace’s creative director
Donatella Versace is stepping down as Versace’s creative director. Her replacement, Miu Miu’s former design director, Dario Vitale, will be the brand’s first designer from outside the family. Versace will serve as the brand’s new ‘brand ambassador’.
Donatella Versace, the creative director of Versace, the famous fashion house founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978 by Gianni Versace, is stepping down after nearly 30 years. Versace, who has held this position since 1997, took over the brand after her brother Gianni’s murder. The 69-year-old designer has led hundreds of fashion campaigns for the Italian brand and taken on roles in hotel and automobile designs. Donatella Versace will continue to be a part of the brand as its new ‘brand ambassador’. Speaking to her 12 million followers on Instagram, she said: “Continuing the legacy of my brother Gianni has been the greatest honour of my life. He was a genius, but I hope I have some of his spirit and determination. In my new role as Chief Brand Ambassador, I will continue to be Versace’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart.”
Dario Vitale
Donatella Versace will be succeeded by former Miu Miu design director Dario Vitale, the brand’s first non-family designer. Vitale, known for his innovative and contemporary designs, is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Versace. The move comes amid speculation that Prada Group would buy Versace from Capri Holdings, which acquired the fashion house for €2bn (£1.67bn) in 2018. In a statement on Thursday, Capri Holdings announced that Donatella Versace will now focus on the brand’s philanthropic and charitable projects and continue to serve as its global advocate. The statement also described Vitale as a “strong design leader” and stressed that his “talent and vision will be critical to Versace’s growth”. The company also thanked Donatella Versace for her contributions to the brand, saying she had “played an integral role in the company’s global success”.
She took over after the tragic death of her brother, Gianni Versace.
When Donatella Versace assumed the leadership of the House of Versace in the wake of her brother Gianni’s tragic death, many believed her tenure would be short-lived. She was viewed as a sentimental choice by a family in shock. However, she defied all expectations. After 27 years, she steps down as an icon in her own right, one of the most successful female designers in modern fashion history, proving that resilience and determination can lead to extraordinary success.
Donatella Versace, 69, studied as a teacher in Florence before working with her older brother, Gianni Versace, who founded the fashion house in 1978. However, during this time, she began to visit her brother frequently, learn from him, and follow her love of fashion. On July 15, 1997, her older brother Gianni was shot and killed in Miami Beach, Florida, while out for a walk like he did every morning. After Gianni’s tragic death, Donatella Versace took over the brand’s leadership and continued his legacy. She served as creative director for almost three decades, transforming Versace into one of the global luxury fashion giants it is today. Her leadership and vision have been instrumental in Versace’s expansion into luxury clothing, accessories, and home décor, cementing its status as a global fashion powerhouse.
Donatella Versace not only found her voice as a designer but also as a champion of LGBTQ+ rights. She was praised for her outspoken stance against Italy’s anti-gay policies, stating in a speech in 2023: “Our government is trying to take away people’s rights to live as they wish.” Her advocacy for equality and rights deserves respect and admiration.
With Gianni Versace’s untimely death, she looked destined to be consigned to the fashion history books. But her talent and determination have helped the brand thrive as a living force that still has the power to set trends, making it potent and desirable to a generation of consumers who have only ever known her as its designer.
The Donatella effect…
Many of Versace’s defining moments have happened under her watch, from Jennifer Lopez in a jungle-green dress slashed to the navel in 2019 to a collection co-designed with Dua Lipa in 2023. The brand’s bold and seductive aesthetic, from its iconic Baroque patterns to its striking colour palette, took shape under Donatella’s creative direction. The iconic name has dressed the world’s biggest stars, including Madonna, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. She also made fashion history as the name who designed Jennifer Lopez’s iconic green jungle dress in 2000 and Michelle Obama’s last official state dinner dress in 2016. Penélope Cruz played herself in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Versace also made a cameo appearance as himself in the film Zoolander. Versace is an icon of the brand, not only for his designs but also for himself. The fashion icon is known for his brightly coloured patterned clothes and platinum blonde hair, synonymous with the brand.
Michael Kors and Capri Holdings…
Founded in Milan in 1978 by Donatella and her siblings Santo and Gianni, Versace was sold to the Michael Kors group in 2018 and incorporated into Capri Holdings in 2019. The Italian fashion house accounted for 20 percent of Capri Holdings’ 5.2 billion euro revenue in 2024.
