Donatella Versace - Designer, Creative Director of Versace

[tricotineacetat]

For me, the debate of elegance and taste ends when I look at any of the interiors decorated in Barocco-print homewear. The kind of 'cribs' you would see in that infamous MTV show, complete with white marble everywhere, a garage full of expensive sports cars. You can say that the va-va-voom associated with the house of Versace is joyous, sparking of sexual confidence and all that, but the very essence of elegance in demeanor and fashion is that of *not* putting all the assets up on display - That’s why fashion icons most associated with supreme elegance are those connected to old money, aristocracy Hollywood or politics - Carolyn Bassette Kennedy, Lee Radziwill, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn or Tilda Swinton.

I truely believe the idea of elegance is linked to a very specific poise and cultural values established in bygone times - Which is why, despite all efforts, Balenciaga couture by Demna looks like playing dress-up in archive clothes at best and Kim Kardashian can put on the rarest jewelry and couture and at best be considered 'chic' but not being elegant - If that makes any sense.

 

[tourbillions]

He is so limited.

Do we need him to come in with outright reproductions of the archives? Lol

He also designs in the 2D. Very flat. I question if he has even taken a basic draping class. A Versace gown needs movement. And Fausto is like looking at a paper doll on the runway. Even Olivier Rouesting has improved in that department.

He’s hot though.

I wonder if alexandre vauthier could chart new territory for Versace. I personally would love to see what he could do if he were to have a chance to dig in and connect with the archives. He could elevate the house from its current public image

I just wanna see new vauthier shows again.


Lindsay lohan for versace!

 

[proseccotabis]

Fausto Puglisi at Versace maybe? 🤣

Don't give recruiters and Versace HR ideas please
Versace HQ will turn into Americas Next Top Model diva level the second he steps inside

 

[Alquimista]

Imagina Pier Paolo at Versace. One of his huge sacks dresses made out of chainmail.

Donatella would pull a Patrizia Reggiani.

 

[Xone]

Alexandre Vauthier yes, i would like to see that...but i'm wondering if he can manage a bigger house...

btw what happened to his ig....17 post no shows pictures...all very random....sometimes i dont understand social media managers and their strategies....

 

[Toni Ahlgren]

Call me crazy but I was thinking Julien MacDonald or Matthew Williamson.

 

[LadyJunon]

Alexandre Vauthier yes, i would like to see that...but i'm wondering if he can manage a bigger house...

btw what happened to his ig....17 post no shows pictures...all very random....sometimes i dont understand social media managers and their strategies....

His brand was recently acquired by Revolve and he's returning to the runway later this month, so he might be doing an image revamp.

 

[FashionPower]

Not one of the most influential and important italian economy publication speculating on Prada being interested in acquiring Versace 😭
Prada and Versace are like opposites, why would Miuccia or Bertelli want to acquire a brand being known as the italian Michael Kors for almost a decade now?

 

[Monsieur Cristobal]

Prada and Versace are like opposites, why would Miuccia or Bertelli want to acquire a brand being known as the italian Michael Kors for almost a decade now?

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If you ask me, the interesting thing about building a group, is to diversify your offer.
In that sense, I find more interesting Prada purchasing Versace than what they tried in the late nineties, when they purchased Helmut Lang and Jil Sander.
Everything gravitated around the slightly quirky sharp Milanese minimalism of Prada.
They didn't succeed, because all those brands were catering in the end to the same customer.

 

[LadyJunon]

If you ask me, the interesting thing about building a group, is to diversify your offer.
In that sense, I find more interesting Prada purchasing Versace than what they tried in the late nineties, when they purchased Helmut Lang and Jil Sander.
Everything gravitated around the slightly quirky sharp Milanese minimalism of Prada.
They didn't succeed, because all those brands were catering in the end to the same customer.

It's kinda like how Gucci has the tendency to cannibalise Saint Laurent.

 

[helmutnotdead]

Not one of the most influential and important italian economy publication speculating on Prada being interested in acquiring Versace 😭
Prada and Versace are like opposites, why would Miuccia or Bertelli want to acquire a brand being known as the italian Michael Kors for almost a decade now?

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because they’re experts on taking bad decisions

 

[Lola701]

Not one of the most influential and important italian economy publication speculating on Prada being interested in acquiring Versace 😭
Prada and Versace are like opposites, why would Miuccia or Bertelli want to acquire a brand being known as the italian Michael Kors for almost a decade now?

View attachment 1337833

They are friends if I remember well.
But mostly, it can make sense as it would allow them to grow.
I would like to think that Bertelli is wiser in his decisions than he was during the early 00’s.

You don’t build a group based on aesthetic but it works in terms of positioning.

It could work. Prada has the facilities to handle the production. The group is doing good and can invest but it won’t be without creative risks.

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I want @Phuel to tell me what's trashy about this. You have a pretty limited and biased view on Gianni's work, IMO. His collections in the 80's and up until 1990-91 (like the dress in the pic) are often ravishing, even to those, like yours truly, who don't necessarily subscribe to his taste.
Then he embraced bad taste and the world seems to remeber him only for that, even if, like @Lola701 points out, it was a phase, almost obliterated by his last Couture collection, which was sleek, graphic and almost totally black. The thing is, Gianni was a true tailor and an exquisite technician, which saved him from the perils that a heavier hand might incur upon when doing "bad taste" (read: Rousteing). And let's not even talk about poor Roberto Cavalli, who had to wait for Gianni to kick the buck to get some attention on his work. Now, if someone tells me that Cavalli is Euro-Trash, I agree...

I have always admired Gianni because beyond the « limited » parameters of his style (essentially sexy dressing), he was a real innovator and someone who wanted to push fashion forward.
Overtime, discovering his body of work has been a real pleasure. I really love 80’s Versace because you see that thread of an aesthetic building each season. Then you add his work for Callaghan and things like that it’s obvious to see why he was that influential.

His body of work is highly underapreciated.

I have to admit that in my adult life, despite loving some Versace collections under Donatella, I made the jump very late into purchasing a Versace piece because for me, the trashy, vavavoom, sexy side from Donatella was rarely nuanced. And the Versace pieces that I have don’t scream Versace funny enough.

I think the world is a bit unfair with Cavalli.

I don’t think that him and Versace have that more in common besides being from the south and doing sexy fashion.

 

[Alquimista]

Not one of the most influential and important italian economy publication speculating on Prada being interested in acquiring Versace 😭
Prada and Versace are like opposites, why would Miuccia or Bertelli want to acquire a brand being known as the italian Michael Kors for almost a decade now?

Miuccia Prada (The Sinister)

 

[Monsieur Cristobal]

It's kinda like how Gucci has the tendency to cannibalise Saint Laurent.

It might sound crazy to some, but Gucci could have a look to Saint Laurent and take notes on how you do things correctly.

 

[Monsieur Cristobal]

Miuccia Prada (The Sinister)

Loved the fact that they explained where was placed Miuccia (to the left) just in case you were wondering who's who 🤣

And loved that picture, both smiling, so adorable ❤️

 

[bc collector]

I think the world is a bit unfair with Cavalli.

I don’t think that him and Versace have that more in common besides being from the south and doing sexy fashion.

The world has been kind enough with Cavalli for me, especially during his tenure, maybe not after. He was actually from Florence and like many florentine designers had his area of expertise in prints and leathers but knew very little about tailoring.
Maybe not willingly but there is no doubt that he benefitted from Versace going out of scene, that kind of audience we hastily dub Euro-trash found another idol to adore.
And yes, I may be biased with Cavalli, but c'mon the guy was crass, his touch was crass, his lifestyle was crass. He's dead now and it might sound disrespectful, but death does not make you a saint: he looked exactly like the lascivious old bag that he was, on top of being, allegedly, a serial harasser. He stepped down at the right time. In times of #metoo they would have jumped at his jugular.

 

[proseccotabis]

Guys. Does it mean that if Prada buys Versace, they will be in the same conglomerate?? Or how will this happen

 

[fashionmarketeditor]

I HIGHLY doubt the Prada buying Versace thing is real. Just more planted gossip in the hopes that other investors will express interest. It’s a fairly common business tactic in the acquisition world. Same thing happened with Moncler/Burberry.

 

[Alquimista]

Oh Jesus, Prada is going to turn Versace into a handbag brand

 

[Xone]