Donatella Versace - Designer, Creative Director of Versace

[Spike413]

Those prices are steep, and certainly more than I would pay for a tacky-fun pair of party shoes or a clutch that's strictly for P.M. hours. Granted those gumball-sized crystals are Swarovski, but still, this is Versus, not the main line.

Hopefully the clothes will either be really amped up in terms of the quality or they'll stay pretty much where they were when the line was discontinued.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Looking back at the pic of the designers above, I couldn't help but think 'beauty and the beast'

 

[chaneladdict]

^ that just made my spit out my milk. I remember watching that show with my dad and hiding behind the couch. I guess I still get that feeling when I see pics of her...This stuff really isn't my style but I do agree that this style reminds me of women who have that attitude you are speaking of...maybe some of the women on the new real housewives series set in New Jersey perhaps?

 

[b9409]

I think Donatella can make Versus her 'Balmain' which is what it is supposed to be anyways. Load all the sex, the extreme and the loud to Versus and keep Versace clean and 'sophisticated' as she wants it to be. Some people criticize Versace for turning into a stale brand, but that is the intention to an extend. Not really stale, but let's say more grown up and respectable.

But there is a great potential for Versus. I think it is a little premature to hope this much from Kane, but if that is her decision, what can anyone say really? Those accessories are all gorgeous, and I can easily see Versus turning into the 'hot dress and accessories' address for many girls who just want to go clubbing.

Just keep the silver spray-painted plaid pants out of the side... I remember some of that hideousness at the very last season before the brand was shut down.

 

[designerleather]

I find this sort of sad and mixed. I would agree with Pasha, that Versace has become stale, and would add that Donatella does not have the eye, flair, or panache that Gianni had. While I have only seen a smattering of Christopher Kane's work, I can see him ascending far more with the Versace label, and Donatella focused on Versus than the opposite.

 

[b9409]

^ I really like what she has been doing with Versace, but you cannot offer all that sex that is essential to the Versace name and universe while trying to mature-up.

I am not sure if Kane is a right name for Versace to begin with. Versace is a family company, and Donatella will be at the helm for a very very long to to come I assume. That is how the Italian brands operate and function in general, opposed to their French competition that are accustomed to changing creative directors constantly.

 

[designerleather]

Interesting point Pasha.

But also raises the question to me as to what is the "image" that Versace comes to mind?

Should Versace really mature up? Or was its market really suited to the younger. It was not so long ago that Chanel was an "older" person's line, from the boucle suits, et al. A great deal of their success and dominance is from "getting younger" and becoming hip.

I am specifically thinking of I think one of the 2000 collections from Versace... I just know my catalog is a thinner, but oversized hard cover, and Donatella was doing Pucci-esque design dress patterns and gone were the young sexy models and now I was looking at housewives.

That is not to say that their have not been pieces that I have not liked, but as a whole, it seems to be a house in flux

 

[b9409]

^ I think the problem is people associate young with 'sexy' right away.

It is a challenge, but it is not impossible to maintain a youthful image and do not do the vulgar. The problem with Versace was their sexy stuff did not sell during early 2000s, so they tried hard to mature things up, but also not really. Versace never looks frumpy or gaudy to me. It is always sleek, yet what makes this bland and boring is the repetition of the same ideas over and over again every season. The big threat Versace was under wasn't really the sex or the over-the-top edge, but it was in fact the interminable 'tacky' she somehow perceived to be 'modern.' I mean when Tom Ford was there, who would buy Donatella's version of sexy.

I know for a fact that the company's business plans still struggle with the current leanings of the industry and remain somehow out of touch, even though the products are extremely well-made: so much better than most other Italians per se. Yet it had not always been taht way. It is not hard for Donatella to claim the throne of 'sexy' in Milan: quite easily she can and perhaps should do that. It is her right; and her essence in fashion. But how to market that 'sexy', create a cultural impact and make money like Dolce and Balmain are another story; one that they have not been successful with under her reign so far. Hopefully, things will unfold for the positive for the brand because young or old, Versace is a force to be reckoned with.

They do cut a mean dress... it is a matter of how to promote that and change the perception not just in our minds who know about fashion, but every other luxury customer out there who may or may not necessarily watch those sublime girls walk down that infamous Milanese runway.

 

[designerleather]

^ In general I agree with your thoughts, Pasha.

What I saw when Donatella took the reigns was a feeling that she was trying to emulate Gianni, but that genius was lacking. There were things Gianni did that were just unique or had a certain image/touch.

That is part of what I also have seen with Versace over the last decade. Who is their customer? What is their style? What is the feel for the brand?

It doesn't necessarily have to be uber sexy, but should be consistent. While the cut of the dresses may be great, I will see them lacking some of the detailing or print that would improve their appeal. Don't know if that make sense.

 

[songbirdsel]

please dont Donatella... you would only shoot me straight in the head

 

[Squizree]

All we can do is wait until S/S 10 which is in September I think, thatll be Versus' fashion relaunch. Im quite excited. I wonder if DOnatella will do runway or just a photoshoot and Im guessing Mariacarla is gonna open followed by her favourites like Georgina, Bruna, Anna I. and Tanya.

 

[reese06]

I didn't think this article needed it's own thread and it really goes with where the discussion in this thread is headed.

ROME (Dow Jones)--Italian fashion house Gianni Versace SpA on Friday said its chief executive, Giancarlo Di Risio, resigned after nearly five years, in a widely anticipated move.
The company's board, which includes designer Donatella Versace and her brother, Santo, said in a statement that the decision over Di Risio's resignation had been mutual.
Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Di Risio would resign after clashing with Donatella Versace over cutting costs and simplifying the house's design to lower prices.
Di Risio, a former executive at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA (12101.FR), will remain on the board temporarily to ensure a smooth transitional period as the company looks for a new chief executive.
According to a person familiar with the matter, the Versace family has begun to scout for Di Risio's successor and has been in talks with Pringle of Scotland's chief executive, Kim Winser.
Hired in September 2004, Di Risio was brought in to clean up the company's finances. Since then, Versace has cut debt, overhauled licensing deals and homed in on luxury accessories.
In Italy, Gianni Versace - as well as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and industry giant Giorgio Armani SpA - remains privately owned. Gucci is owned by French retailer PPR SA (12148.FR), while Rome-based Fendi is part of the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (MC.FR) empire.
Founder Gianni Versace was shot to death in 1997. His sister Donatella now owns a 20% stake in the company. Her daughter, Allegra Versace Beck, owns 50% of the fashion house, while Santo Versace owns a 30% stake in the company.

 

[Squizree]

So he did finally resign. At first it was just a rumour.

 

[haksare]

Sad to see the CEO of Versace go . Hope it doesn't affect Donatella's work!
That being said, I hope Versus will retain it's glam rock and roll aesthetic. I'd love to see some of that attitude again. Of course Versace always has the best models <3

 

[reese06]

^^I think this will affect Donatella's work in a positive way. It seems he wanted to cut the cost on the product and do more simple designs and I'm sure he probably wanted to keep prices where they currently were or increase them to increase profit but Donatella didn't agree with that plan.

It's really great that Versace is still one of the few privately owned high fashion companies around.

 

[Versace-Goddess]

^^
Agree.
Versace is not Armani, if you want simple designs go to Armani or CK store. Versace stands for glamour and outstanding designs.

 

[designerleather]

price ad cost don't matter as much if the image and style is there.

When I hear Versace, I still think 90s

Versace to me seems Gucci post Tom Ford

 

[Melancholybaby]

Donatella Versace, whose one-off line with H&M hits stores Thursday, hasn’t forgotten about the other end of the price spectrum. On Tuesday, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture issued a one-line press release saying Versace is back on the official couture calendar in January. According to sources, the Milanese house will show on the first day, Jan. 23, in the first time slot.

Versace last appeared on the official couture calendar in January 2004. The firm never discontinued this category, opting instead for low-key still-life presentations with sittings editors only. A Versace spokesman had no comment on the development.

wwd.com

I can't wait to see the first Versace HC runway show in 8 years

 

[Bonbonenata]

Oh! It'll be spectacular!

 

[Wolkfolk]

Even though their collections are not the most spectacular, I'm really looking forward to see this.