Donatella Versace - Designer, Creative Director of Versace

[PDFSD]

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.

the reason for the death of JS and HL was because of interference of Bertelli , in lowering production quality and faniorcs an both where not having it etc and left there for both brands lost their authority and unique voice not because they had same shoppers.

everyone i know in milan is saying Dario is going to Versace as cd ....i still can't believe it to see DV replaced while still being alive and well even if she needs a lot of help to redirect the brand forward for some time now.

 

[Lola701]

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.

The Burberry/Moncler thing is a little bit more complex than that. It helped Burberry in short term but there were interest from the Italians.

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

Exactly. Prada is a group after all. They have two main brands, Prada and MiuMiu, then Church’s, Marchesi and Car shoe (their Tod’s).

I still believe that Mayhoola is the best for Versace.
They have a track record of making a success with fashion brands.

Versace and Prada is an interesting idea as a supergroup for fashion but MiuMiu and Prada are managed like leather goods houses (despite the fact that MiuMiu is a fashion house). Some of the tactics used to push the numbers at MiuMiu and Prada could actually hurt Versace.

 

[FashionPower]

Private chat from 1 month ago...well, welcome Dario Vitale! Now please, get rid of Jacob K as stylist, come up with a decently designed bag and design again some luxurious evening dresses / gowns. We are tired of basic jacket with medusa hardware buttons...

 

[PDFSD]

The Burberry/Moncler thing is a little bit more complex than that. It helped Burberry in short term but there were interest from the Italians.

Exactly. Prada is a group after all. They have two main brands, Prada and MiuMiu, then Church’s, Marchesi and Car shoe (their Tod’s).

I still believe that Mayhoola is the best for Versace.
They have a track record of making a success with fashion brands.

Versace and Prada is an interesting idea as a supergroup for fashion but MiuMiu and Prada are managed like leather goods houses (despite the fact that MiuMiu is a fashion house). Some of the tactics used to push the numbers at MiuMiu and Prada could actually hurt Versace.

but i rather have prada give it a chance than capri keep destroying versace

both prada and miu miu push fashion hard and if on the sales floor we see bags as key pushers i don't mind it as that's what people buy into LV with NG is good example that both extremes can coexist if done with innovation in product and fashion forward ideas that later trickle down in main collections it should work ...if its Dario lets see what he can do ...i am sceptical of all these current nr 2´s that got big jobs

Mayhooly will be again another capri and will let DV run the show


i don't know so far i like this twist :-) the nerdy and sexy duo

 

[jeanclaude]

One thing is sure: if Prada buys Versace, then Donatella goes out (to drink some tea with Helmut and Jil)...

 

[brandon J pierre]

Horrible. This will be the biggest scandal in fashion history since the death of Versace. Not them buying it but Donatella being forced to leave. Versace is such a particular brand it has such a strong Identity stronger than Prada ever will be stronger than McQueen stronger than galliano. That being said Versace really should be along the line of Dior and Chanel. They need tweaking not a full overall. We've seen what a full overall has done at Gucci and givenchy and many other brand. Whether you like Versace right now or not that would be a very sad day for many fashion enthusiast like my self. If you really think about it if you really sit down and look at the fashion world as an entertainment and design industry she's the most famous designer in the world other than Karl and YSL and her brother. It would also mean something else! it would mean that no young designer would ever be able to make it on his own without a conglomerate it would be the end a pure talent that thrives on their own. family businesses of Italy and Paris already pretty much dead. This was signify that bank's rule. Marc Jacobs financially it's pretty much dead. Versace sold because they had to Dior sold Louis Vuitton sold and whatever happens with Armani will be absolutely sad. Valentino gone. It would be the death fashion that we grew up watching (I'm 40). The power will no longer be in the Creator's creatives hands but in the hands of the banks.

 

[brandon J pierre]

One thing is sure: if Prada buys Versace, then Donatella goes out (to drink some tea with Helmut and Jil)...

Horrible horrific absolutely

 

[brandon J pierre]

Private chat from 1 month ago...well, welcome Dario Vitale! Now please, get rid of Jacob K as stylist, come up with a decently designed bag and design again some luxurious evening dresses / gowns. We are tired of basic jacket with medusa hardware buttons...

View attachment 1337850

These designers suck they have no longevity they don't have the vision that take a brand 20 years ahead. They are designers of right here right now (fashion Nova) When they're over in 5 years or 3 years at the most a new designer will be installed. The banks and white shirts will rule!

 

[blueorchid]

If you really think about it if you really sit down and look at the fashion world as an entertainment and design industry she's the most famous designer in the world other than Karl and YSL and her brother.

I’m just going to say… no. This is objectively not true. Chanel or Dior, even Pierre Cardin. I appreciate your defence of Donatella, but let’s get back to earth. If we look at designers as the entertainment industry, she’s like… a character actor. Not a movie star, at least not in 2025.

 

[brandon J pierre]

I’m just going to say… no. This is objectively not true. Chanel or Dior, even Pierre Cardin. I appreciate your defence of Donatella, but let’s get back to earth. If we look at designers as the entertainment industry, she’s like… a character actor. Not a movie star, at least not in 2025.

Then name one designer more famous than her and please don't act like she started the studio. Also press is important up with notoriety is important. She gets all those things.

 

[blueorchid]

I did: Coco Chanel. Christian Dior. Pierre Cardin. Giorgio Armani.

 

[blueorchid]

I mean, these are the Google search results comparing them to Donnatella…



my screencap

 

[GoldenPetals]

I mean sometime googling "Christian Dior" isn't googling the designer, just the brand. Just saying.

 

[brandon J pierre]

I mean sometime googling "Christian Dior" isn't googling the designer, just the brand. Just saying.

Correct

 

[tricotineacetat]

the reason for the death of JS and HL was because of interference of Bertelli , in lowering production quality and faniorcs an both where not having it etc and left there for both brands lost their authority and unique voice not because they had same shoppers.

As a former buyer for a boutique that sold Prada-era Helmut Lang, I can only say this is partially true.

Helmut Lang did well because the prices were what people consider to be 'contemporary' in today's fashion market - Which made sense, as a lot of Lang devotees were not top-tier luxury spenders to begin with - So you had the influential shoes and accessories line (women’s shoes sold from about 260€ for a pair of pumps to 600€ at max for a pair of boots in 2004) as well as a lot of conceptual jersey (likely finding it’s successor in Rick Owens DRKSHDW and Lilies) and entry-priced but still nice-quality outerwear, such as the classic moleskin jackets/coats.

 

[blueorchid]

I mean sometime googling "Christian Dior" isn't googling the designer, just the brand. Just saying.

It’s by topic, not general search term.

But you’re right Donatella Versace is the MOST FAMOUS designer of all!!!!

 

[Scotty]

Donatella is culturally relevant for sure. 💜

Not sure how it translates into other things though for the brand. We need fresh designs from her.

 

[Lola701]

but i rather have prada give it a chance than capri keep destroying versace

both prada and miu miu push fashion hard and if on the sales floor we see bags as key pushers i don't mind it as that's what people buy into LV with NG is good example that both extremes can coexist if done with innovation in product and fashion forward ideas that later trickle down in main collections it should work ...if its Dario lets see what he can do ...i am sceptical of all these current nr 2´s that got big jobs

Mayhooly will be again another capri and will let DV run the show


i don't know so far i like this twist :-) the nerdy and sexy duo

We saw the miracle Mayhoola did with Balmain and Valentino. It’s not bad for brands with a rather weak accessories business.

Prada is luxury good maison. Their job is to make bags. MiuMiu even if it’s a fashion house is run like a luxury goods maison. You see how they have a distinctive aesthetic for their bags and things like that.

Versace doesn’t have that kind of identity.

Vuitton is another thing. It’s not a fashion house. And plus, they have probably the most exclusive retail network out of all the main luxury brands.

Prada can have a million of outlets, produce products specifically for those stores, put logos on every product possible, sell basics with the MiuMiu logo on them, the cool status of the brand will never be altered.

Versace is already selling products on Zalando. They have still their embarrassing VJC license…They should reach for an elevation time.

The success of Prada now is too fragile for me to see them as a right long term partner for a house like Versace. When the MiuMiu hype will slow, they can also find themselves in the same situation as Michael Kors now where they have to focus on the main brands.

Miuccia will leave eventually so the succession issue will come with it set of challenges.

Mayhoola is the just Qatar. They have unlimited funds. They can make the
necessary sacrifices to push Versace to the next step.
If I was them, I would keep Valentino, Balmain, buy Versace and Jimmy Choo.

 

[tourbillions]

if prada buys versace.. no ones gonna be surprised. they do need a loud brand in their repertoire, not everyone wants to be covered up. And if managed well, versace has some kind of cult following way before the rick owens girlies knew fashion.

 

[JohannesL]

the reason for the death of JS and HL was because of interference of Bertelli , in lowering production quality and faniorcs an both where not having it etc and left there for both brands lost their authority and unique voice not because they had same shoppers.

I always thought this is one of the fashion conspiracy theories that it was Bertelli's coup to kill JS and HL to make Prada the only one at that time.