Dario Vitale - Designer, Creative Director of Versace

[LadyJunon]

Why I have the feeling this smells like Helmut Lang...???

I'm fearing that's not the case. In that same vein, it would be much easier to revive a mass-appeal sexy brand like Versace than a brand with a specific context like Helmut Lang.

 

[Alquimista]

Why I have the feeling this smells like Helmut Lang...???

ALL over the place. But why the nylon lady wants to destroy Versace??

A homage collection will only work if it's a show, it's versace ffs.

 

[reese06]

Doesn’t have to be a show to be honest.

Could be something like Tom Ford’s last official collection which was a retrospective or a video that’s slick and creates a universe reminiscent of early ads etc or whatever. But that may be a reach because I can’t remember Versace doing a video that creates a universe or anything slick in the last decade a la Saint Laurent, Celine that would leave the impression needed to get a return on the investment

 

[brandon J pierre]

Why I have the feeling this smells like Helmut Lang...???

Oh no

 

[brandon J pierre]

Doesn’t have to be a show to be honest.

Could be something like Tom Ford’s last official collection which was a retrospective or a video that’s slick and creates a universe reminiscent of early ads etc or whatever. But that may be a reach because I can’t remember Versace doing a video that creates a universe or anything slick in the last decade a la Saint Laurent, Celine that would leave the impression needed to get a return on the investment

That sounds absolutely horrible. Also, I was pissed at tom ford with that little video but it was fabulous but not enough. But Versace has a gigantic archive of clothing. A tribute for Donatella Versace and ganni would take a full hour video. All I know is it better be good.

And no press ? Huh ? No after party, no celebrities will Donatella even be there? Sounds fishing as f*ck.

 

[vogue22]

Not inviting celebrities and influencers is exactly what I would've done as one of the suits if I considered the upcoming collection to be sh*t from a butt!

 

[Squizree]

A hard relaunch would be fine if the Prada team had the competence to deliver a fresh creative chapter to Versace. And they better pray they can deliver if they're willing to cancel an RTW season over it.

 

[reese06]

That sounds absolutely horrible. Also, I was pissed at tom ford with that little video but it was fabulous but not enough. But Versace has a gigantic archive of clothing. A tribute for Donatella Versace and ganni would take a full hour video. All I know is it better be good.

And no press ? Huh ? No after party, no celebrities will Donatella even be there? Sounds fishing as f*ck.

If this really is meant to be a tribute collection, then it better be a collection, not a glorified museum exhibit. We’ve seen Donatella revisit the archive for nearly a decade now. At this point, less tribute. It’s a rerun in 2025 with how many times we’ve seen a Gianni and Donatella tribute.

Tom Ford’s was more than enough considering his actual output at his namesake

 

[carla56]

By the way it’s all about the son, Lorenzo Bertelli… his parents bought him Versace to be his toy and he is the one taking ALL the decisions of the last days, and by all I mean about the collection and the creative aspects…so basically the creative director will be a puppet in his hands…

 

[Thefrenchy]

Per Puck:

• Why did Versace postpone Dario Vitale’s first runway show?: One of the most anticipated debuts of the fall is Dario Vitale’s first collection as creative director of Versace, a company that is currently owned by the U.S. group Capri. However, don’t expect some kind of grand gesture, even though Vitale has been preparing since March and was looking at venues. Instead, according to a Versace spokesperson, the company will host “an intimate event honoring the past and envisioning the future.”
  
  There’s something to be said for a new designer presenting a first collection on the down low, as Daniel Lee did at Bottega Veneta (no show, just a lookbook). Vitale is under a tremendous amount of pressure, and this could alleviate expectations. However, it’s hard to believe this wasn’t related to the Prada Group’s $1.4 billion deal to buy Versace from Capri, which is set to close in September, just days before the show was scheduled to take place. While the decision was made on the Versace side, the Prada Group benefits from shielding Vitale until they have a final say—not only on the collection, but also the imagery, presentation, etcetera. After all, the Prada Group will presumably make big infrastructure changes at Versace—and fast.

Bravo @carla56 for the early heads up

And now we get what I was expecting: the "unexpected format" excuse (i,e "intimate event" with barely anyone in attendance) and the "honoring Gianni and Donatella" as in "carryovers with a twist".

"the Prada Group benefits from shielding Vitale until they have a final say—not only on the collection, but also the imagery, presentation, etcetera." means everyone's getting fired. Start calling your headhunters, Versace team.

 

[Salvatore]

By the way it’s all about the son, Lorenzo Bertelli… his parents bought him Versace to be his toy and he is the one taking ALL the decisions of the last days, and by all I mean about the collection and the creative aspects…so basically the creative director will be a puppet in his hands…

100% believe you !

 

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Why I have the feeling this smells like Helmut Lang...???

Or Prada's era Jil Sander and Alaia lamo

 

[Lola701]

By the way it’s all about the son, Lorenzo Bertelli… his parents bought him Versace to be his toy and he is the one taking ALL the decisions of the last days, and by all I mean about the collection and the creative aspects…so basically the creative director will be a puppet in his hands…

Ahah! It’s the same with Alexandre making his father buy Rimowa and Tiffany lol.

I wonder what attracted Lorenzo to Versace because it’s quite different from their universe but also, from Capri, it would have been easier to run Jimmy Choo.
If he manages to turn the brand over, all glory to him but then he should be part of the process of choosing the CD.

I don’t remember, did the people at Capri involved Donatella in the process of hiring her successor or she was just left with dealing with the situation?

Vitale was probably not that expensive anyway. They can curate a collection, do a presentation with Donatella, do events around Versace worldwide. The role of Donatella as an ambassador can be used in that period. She can go signing books in all Versace stores around the world and they can have mini-exhibitions in their stores too.

Or Prada's era Jil Sander and Alaia lamo

Alaia was a success though. Azzedine wasn’t one to be played either. It lasted 7 years, Azzedine bought it back and they continued making his accessories until Richemont came around.

 

[carla56]

I really don’t understand why Capri decided to change CD while they were selling… wasn’t it more clever to extend Donatella’s contract for a few months and let the new owner take this fundamental decision?!?

 

[Kite]

I really don’t understand why Capri decided to change CD while they were selling… wasn’t it more clever to extend Donatella’s contract for a few months and let the new owner take this fundamental decision?!?

Prada Picked him. The retirement of Donatella was paramount in PRADA group purchasing Versace.

 

[style_expert]

I also don’t really follow the logic of this story.
Originally, it was assumed that Capri hired Dario as part of the upcoming deal with Prada and/or as a way to court Prada as a potential buyer for Versace.
But now it sounds like the complete opposite — that Prada isn’t all that enthusiastic about Dario as creative director in the first place.
It’s a mess right now, and Versace really needs to move forward with a new direction sooner rather than later.

Either way, Bertelli and Miuccia definitely scored a nice discounted “toy” for their son. 😂
The issue with the Prada Group — historically, and perhaps still embedded in their company culture — is that once things are going well, they tend to get overconfident with new ventures. Beyond Prada and Miu Miu, nothing has ever really worked out for them.
Maybe the new generation (read: Lorenzo) can do better... but turning Versace around will take a lot.

 

[PDFSD]

By the way it’s all about the son, Lorenzo Bertelli… his parents bought him Versace to be his toy and he is the one taking ALL the decisions of the last days, and by all I mean about the collection and the creative aspects…so basically the creative director will be a puppet in his hands…

he is a nice guy he wants to do good, even if he is modeled after his dad :-)

 

[Creative]

Sounds super messy and hard to understand. So it was actually not Prada choosing Dario but Capri? That’s super weird 🤨

Why changing a CD when you are selling a company? And you can say bye to Donatella, that I understand, but naming another CD? What for?

And nobody went into the studio in… months?

Sounds super weird to me.

 

[hamburgers]

Dario Vitale’s Versace Debut Will Be an Intimate Event, Not Runway Show​

The spring 2026 collection will be unveiled on Sept. 26 during Milan Fashion Week.

By: Luisa Zargani July 29, 2025, 12:14pm


DARIO’S FIRST: Dario Vitale‘s first collection for Versace will not be presented through a runway fashion show, according to sources.

Asked for a comment, a Versace representative confirmed and said Vitale’s debut collection “will see the house host an intimate event, honoring the past and envisioning the future,” scheduled on Sept. 26 in Milan. The city’s Fashion Week is expected to run Sept. 23-29 but the calendar has not been released yet.

The spring collection will be unveiled through a presentation and, according to sources, there is a video component.

This is a new development for Versace, which has over the years staged fashion shows with major models and friends of the house ranging from Demi Moore and Elton John to Miley Cyrus and Anne Hathaway, even enlisting Jennifer Lopez and Dua Lipa to walk the runways.

In March, Donatella Versace was named chief brand ambassador of the fashion house she has helped grow on her own for the past 28 years, following the death of her brother Gianni. Her last show was paraded in Milan in February for fall, hinging on the house’s bold, baroque prints. The designer was succeeded by Dario Vitale, named chief creative officer, on April 1.

Vitale was previously Miu Miu’s ready-to-wear design director and left the company in January.

In April, after months of speculation, Prada finally confirmed it was acquiring 100 percent of Versace from Capri Holdings for 1.25 billion euros. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

Announcing the deal, Lorenzo Bertelli, head of CSR at Prada Group, said: “I think we don’t need to change the brand, we need to just evolve it and make the right things happen and together bring back Versace to be a huge success. So we need just to be patient, and we know very well that there is no one single ingredient for success.”

During a conference call with analysts at the time, Prada Group CEO Andrea Guerra underscored that Vitale’s exit from Miu MIu was “his own decision, independent and very personal,” and that it was not the harbinger of this acquisition.

Pressed for further comment on finding Vitale at Versace, Guerra said, ”We are happy to find him as a trusted pair of hands in such an important position for the future of the brand, we are very happy to really welcome all the team, wherever they are in the world and whatever they’re doing. We really need to be warm and give everyone the opportunity to show their impact and their talent.”

WWD

 

[oioioi]

Dario was among a pool of choices presented to Donatella and she chose him.
Though allegedly, she was pretty out of it during the whole choosing process and pretty 'boh' about any of the options.
Capri don't really know the Milan/Italian fashion house politics, I don't think they barely had a clue in their 3/4 year ownership of how to manage Versace and don't think they understand or know the inner Prada family personal attitudes.