Donatella Versace - Designer, Creative Director of Versace

[proseccotabis]

It'd be such a pity if DV stepped down, she IS the brand for me... Although it seems like they are stuck at the moment.

All this chit-chat about repositioning the brand (and the new hires they did... I read they even hired a few people from Daniel Lee's BV era) just has not translated into anything significant so far.

Versace is one of the few that is very clear in terms of brand identity. It's a sense of powerful sexy maximalism. Unfortunately, that vibe is not trendy nowadays therefore I don't see the struggle ending anytime soon.

The merchandising should be tighter and they should be sharper in their image. If done well, they could be a breathe of fresh air in an ocean of nuances of beige...

Im still recovering from how out of all people available, Cillian Murphy is their Versace man. With all due respect, this is such a confusing move for brand identity. Michelle Morrone is more suitable for this…. Versace screams hype and desperation to me

 

[reese06]

She is definitely an icon of the brand, but that gives the new CD a lot to work from as far as iconography and what she brought to the house in a fresh way.

The tribute collection was the best and worst thing that happened to Donatella. After that she really became stuck and with the evolution of the industry she seemed to not know what to do and the product in stores has become very cheap and all over the place. I have been appalled at the quality of things on the sales floor but I think that point has been beaten to death in this thread.

They got rid of Versus and Versace Collection, only to keep Versace Jeans Couture makes no sense.

Versace is not at the point of no return though. Their problem is they are trying to be everything but Versace. Balmain survives because Olivier is confident in his direction no matter how stiff and ugly it is and people like Oliver.

People like Donatella too but it’s bad when people know your brand for not having had a hit for so many seasons and wishing for your brand to look like itself.

 

[proseccotabis]

Girl, if the British monarchy could recover from Charles and Diana, Versace can recover from Michael Kors.

The very fact these 2 are in the same conglomerate is actually offensive for Versace Ngl

 

[blueorchid]

Like, what... Michael Kors is somehow worse than Versace under Donatella in 2024?

 

[honnetement]

The very fact these 2 are in the same conglomerate is actually offensive for Versace Ngl

Exactly. Versace is bold, decadent, Kors is just… there. Ones draped over a supermodel in Capri, the other at an outlet mall in Ohio. They shouldn’t even be in the same room.

 

[blueorchid]

Oh please, in 2024 the Versace client a basic gay who also lives in Ohio who thinks he’s serving Capri while he wears his silk shirt to a RuPaul’s Drag Race streaming at his local gay bar.

 

[GoldenPetals]

Oh please, in 2024 the Versace client a basic gay who also lives in Ohio who thinks he’s serving Capri while he wears his silk shirt to a RuPaul’s Drag Race streaming at his local gay bar.

While whining about "corporate greed" in the same breath.

 

[blueorchid]

While whining about "corporate greed" in the same breath.

Fracking?

 

[honnetement]

Oh please, in 2024 the Versace client a basic gay who also lives in Ohio who thinks he’s serving Capri while he wears his silk shirt to a RuPaul’s Drag Race streaming at his local gay bar.

Exactly, and even that basic gay wouldn’t be caught dead in Michael Kors. Delusion or not, there are levels to this.

 

[blueorchid]

Exactly, and even that basic gay wouldn’t be caught dead in Michael Kors. Delusion or not, there are levels to this.

To be honest, I've never in my life thought about who the client for Michael Kors men's line is, but now I wonder.

 

[GoldenPetals]

To be honest, I've never in my life thought about who the client for Michael Kors men's line is, but now I wonder.

People who don't speak English and think any old random English name means it's 'expensive'. That's Kors' market.

 

[Toni Ahlgren]

I once tried a Michael Kors coat at TJMaxx, I really wanted to buy it but it was just a wee bit too small.

 

[Pradaromance2025]

I don’t think that Donatella currently has a say in the design process (not for a while)
It is probably a design team and of course she is used as the face for the brand since she is famous and instantly recognizable to gain interest in the brand.

Ricardo Tisci would be interesting (I personally have loved him a long time at all the design houses he has been at the helm of) I don’t see it currently him being the creative force behind the brand.

Capri is definitely shaping Versace into a lucrative Italian brand, sure someone mentioned that it is flashy - it is supposed to be, it’s from Milan!

 

[GoldenPetals]

Can you imagine the wealth of iconography her successor will have at their disposal?

 

[Salvatore]

Oh please, in 2024 the Versace client a basic gay who also lives in Ohio who thinks he’s serving Capri while he wears his silk shirt to a RuPaul’s Drag Race streaming at his local gay bar.

Whew, you just dragged the hell out of someone 😭

 

[Lola701]

Can you imagine the wealth of iconography her successor will have at their disposal?

I mean, PPP had that whole wealth at Valentino and barely used it so…
And looking at what is happening at Saint Laurent, wealth of iconography at anyone disposal doesn’t mean anything if the talent is not imaginative to fully exploit that.

 

[FashionPower]

To be honest, I've never in my life thought about who the client for Michael Kors men's line is, but now I wonder.

Easy answer: the boyfriends of one of those tacky girlies who know nothing about high fashion carrying MK monogram bags cause they can't afford either LV neverfulls or Saint Laurent LouLou bags.
At this point Michael Kors is like an elevated version of Guess with accessories made out of leather instead of PU...

 

[FashionPower]

Oh please, in 2024 the Versace client a basic gay who also lives in Ohio who thinks he’s serving Capri while he wears his silk shirt to a RuPaul’s Drag Race streaming at his local gay bar.

You forgot the straight tacky corporate / finance people looking like drug dealers spending thousands in Vodka / cocktails at Ushuaia in Ibiza or Miami beach club to gather attention and lure some other tacky girlie for a nice smashing...
Their look is very standardized and instantly recognizable: Versace baroque print silk shirt, Hermes H belt, Loro Piana grandpa loafers, replica Daytona / GMT master (either a Batman or a Pepsi, cause you know, Rolex only makes those two models...), Cartier small sunnies.

 

[FashionPower]

Im still recovering from how out of all people available, Cillian Murphy is their Versace man. With all due respect, this is such a confusing move for brand identity. Michelle Morrone is more suitable for this…. Versace screams hype and desperation to me

The PR is another huge problem at Versace right now. They have terrible celebs ambassadors. For a brand so reliant on bold / strong image and clothing, their celebs antics and looks are so clashing.
- Anne is not an A list celeb and she is not bold enough to pull off the most daring looks. Also her following is not that great. She is still milking her success after that iconic Devil wears Prada role.
- Asia / Kpop celebs are so forced Just to please the Asian market. An after thought after they realized you need to appeal that market to boost sales. Versace is bold but their asian celebs are boring and bland.
- Male PR is the worst one: Cillian is a villain at heart, he is Saint Laurent, Prada...not Versace. Get Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Javier Bardem. Cillian for Versace is like getting Penelope Cruz for Prada.

 

[PPPT]

"I'm just wondering why Versace hasn't come up with a true classic bag for their brand yet. It could be such a money-maker! All they seem to do are bags with Medusa heads and chunky gold chains—they feel so uninspired. They don’t look sexy at all; they actually feel more like something made for kids. And those canvas bags? They just look like Dior Book Tote knockoffs.