Donatella: Love for her Brother, Gianni Versace

 

Woman, power and independence are talking points the world over, especially in fashion. But if there's anyone who knows anything about woman in power, it's Donatella Versace. Mira Duma has the story...
Donatella Versace grew up in a traditional Southern Italian family, together with two older (and patronising) brothers — Gianni and Santo. Then, after finishing school, she entered the University of Florence following in the footsteps of her brother Gianni. This is where her fashion journey began. Skip forward a few years and Donatella took over the PR and advertising reigns in the blooming family business, where Gianni was in charge of the creative and Santo managed all of the finances. 

However in 1997, when Gianni died, it was Donatella who took to the helm of the eponymous company. Her first collection for Versace was released just three months after the murder of her brother and ever since, she's been presenting show after show. After a twenty-year stint, Donatella is still unconditionally loyal to Versace, making her a pillar of contemporary European fashion.
Now, the Versace brand, recognisable, unaltered and with few variations, has been vividly transformed in recent seasons. The brand's iconic zippers, slit dresses, flounces as well as the pink and yellow combination made way for camouflage, uniforms and khaki last autumn. Then, Donatella brought to life the world of nymphs and dryads this spring. 
Donatella is changing with time and so does Versace.  
And then there's Versus. Versace's second line, which has been headed by some of the industries most talented designers of our time including Christopher Kane, Jonathan Anderson and Anthony Vaccarello (perhaps Thomas Tate is next inline?), is always nothing but acute.
Today Versace is still as autonomous a company as ever, and right before  Versace Couture show, Miroslava Duma sat down with the Creative Director to discuss Prince's shyness, Riccardo Tisci's persistence and Donatella's own secrets on how to make an effective team...

During the men's show in June we heard several unreleased tracks from your friend Prince, which created a vivid image on the runway. Can you tell me more about your relationship with the prominent musician?
Versace has always had close relations with musicians. Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, Prince — that's not a complete list of our friends. I was eager to work with Prince but he was an extremely shy person and really difficult to catch. Then in 1998 he called and I invited him to our studio. Since then, we've always been in touch. Sometimes the phone rang and when I answered I heard nothing but silence. Then, ten minutes later the phone would ring again and this time I heard his voice: "It's me". But I always knew it was him because I had a very strong connection with this man.
The last thing he told me when he came to my Milano show was: "How are we going to teach the new generation what is true and what is not?". He was obsessed with this question. He wanted to reach young people and to protect them from mistakes, which are not easy to fix afterwards.
Speaking about musicians I can't help mentioning Lady Gaga and her song "Donatella", which was devoted to you... 
I love Lady Gaga! She is so intelligent.
You've created many iconic looks for her and other celebrities. How do you work with famous people? Are you tough and intransigent or are you ready to meet their own ideas and expectations?
I always think about their personality. Lady Gaga, for instance, always follows the principle: "the more, the better". She prefers very sexy outfits and never compromises on that. Another example is Angelina Jolie, who wants to convey the message of 'care and giving' so her dresses are more simple and serious, in a way. They both look different but they both wear Versace.
There's a specific idea of the Versace woman: she is strong, independent, sexy and even dangerous. Have you ever thought of working with someone who is totally different from the stereotypic Versace image? Like Tilda Swinton for instance...
You read my mind! Tilda's androgynous beauty is something special. I've thought a lot about combining her short hair and flat shoes with a Versace dress — that would be something extraordinary! But I would say that it's not impossible because Tilda is quite the Versace girl.

 

You've been in charge of Versace for 20 years, through both calm and tough years, especially now that the whole system of fashion is transforming dramatically. How has the style of the brand changed with time?
My style has changed in recent years and now I create totally different things from those I made ten years ago. Today I concentrate on day wear, which I want to be sexy and smart at the same time. I try to make clothes to empower women because I know if they feel good in their outfits, they'll reach any goal. Evening wear represents our dreams but I try to bring the same magic to our day wear collections too. Then, I always pay attention to the cut because I know women need comfort. After all, our self-confidence depends greatly on how we look.
I think about woman's style as a weapon, which you need to know how to use properly. 
Every day you work with incredible aesthetics coupled with the heritage of Versace but I was wondering... how do you move the company forward while keeping its DNA safe?
Versace has never been just a company — Versace is a lifestyle. We make chinaware, interior decor and even real estate under this brand. I try to keep all of the ideas Gianni put into Versace: our famous logo with Medusa's head, baroque luxury as well as that bold and provocative style of the fashion house. But when I look back I realise how many mistakes I could have avoided if I'd listened to myself instead of listening to the advice of others. I respect Gianni's legacy with all of my heart but times change and we need to meet modern realities. When he died there wasn't even Internet and now technologies change everything, including the fashion industry.
Versace is one of those rare brands which has remained independent. Yet, I know that 20 percent of the company's shares have been sold, so people really do want to invest in Versace... 
That's true. But we don't put money in our pockets. We invest, invest and invest in our development.
Can one call Versace a family company?
Not anymore. We have an independent board of directors and all of the decisions are taken by vote.
Is that a more comfortable way to do business?
Yes. Independent people can tell you what's wrong and what's right. You can discuss any issue with them and know that they're being honest. Plus everyone brings new ideas and challenges to the company. What I like most about this form of management is that people on the board are not from fashion, they are real experts in other fields.
We live in the world of fast fashion. According to a sociological estimate people consume around 8 billion of clothing units annually. However Versace presents up to 10 collections per year...
I agree, it's too much. Everyday more and more clothes arrive into shops and compete with each other. That's because nowadays everybody can do fashion and there are so many new designers and brands. We have to go back to that real fashion culture and those brands whose philosophy is based on this culture. You don't need to fill your shop with hundreds of outfits and then add collection after collection to dilute them. 

And modern technologies, which are supposed to make things easier, sometimes make them impossible because of the pace...
That's true! Technology sets an extreme pace and not everybody can adjust to it. Clients want more and more and they want it all right now. They see, they like, they buy — that's how the system works in clients' minds. And we can satisfy that pace with our second line, which is Versus, but things are not that easy with our couture collections. We are no longer able to keep with the pace of luxury. We used to have six months after any show to prepare the clothes, now we have no more than two. I think the fashion calendar is no longer sustainable. Maybe we (by we I mean all of those people who are in the industry) need to sit together and discuss a new fashion order.

Now is really the time to start constructive dialogue between people in the industry. I'm also glad to see that the majority are ready to find solutions for common problems, even though they are competitors to each other.
You became the face of the Givenchy advertising campaign, which is something unprecedented. How did Riccardo Tisci manage to persuade you?
He phoned me and said: "I am afraid to ask because you're going to say 'no', but will you be a part of my new campaign?". I said "yes" and he couldn't believe it! Working with Riccardo was incredibly pleasant and we had lots of fun! I am sure that designers should talk to each other and work together if they want to change the industry. When it comes to common problems there should be no envy and competition.
While looking through your Instagram and other social media accounts it's easy to see how much respect you show towards people in your team. Can you share some of your secrets to effective teambuilding?
No one can achieve success without support and I am proud of the people who I work with. I think the secret is that I surround myself with personalities whose tastes differ from my own. For instance, there is a girl in one of my studios who is a minimalist in everything: she always wears black clothes and flat shoes and never uses make-up. She challenges me and I like it. 
I never work with those who love Versace unconditionally. I prefer those who question everything I do and that really helps me to move forward.

You definitely have a gift in discovering talent. You turned the world's attention to Christopher Kane, Jonathan Anderson and Anthony Vaccarello when you invited them to work for Versace. After just a few collections for Versus Christopher Kane received an offer from Kering to buy his brand's shares, Jonathan Anderson became Creative Director of Loewe and Anthony Vaccarello replaced Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent. What helps you discover real talent? Is it intuition?
I think yes, it's my intuition. I don't allow myself to be repetitive, which is why I'm always looking for inspiration. I love to deal with young talented people and I always try to embrace their creativity. I am not jealous if someone is more gifted than me or is able to generate ideas faster. We just develop a positive and constructive dialogue with each other and try to find interesting solutions. The guys you mentioned mean a lot to me. They represent the new generation and they speak a different fashion language, which thanks to them, I've been able to discover a whole new world. You always need to move forward and challenge yourself.
Is that the secret to your success?
My secret is that I never stop working. Thinking over ideas is kind of a habit for me. If you stop for just five minutes or you've lost your Internet connection, you would be at risk of missing great opportunities. Information is the key concept nowadays in all aspects of life, including fashion, so you have to work with ideas every minute. We need to understand what women want, even though it's always the same: they want to feel safe, to have power and independence. If you are a man, things are easier for you because no one takes your rights away. When we talk about a woman's power the situation is different...

My name is Donatella Versace I don’t know how to do things quietly'

 

 Donatella Versace on causing controversy: 'My name is Versace - I don’t know how to do things quietly'
These days ad camapaigns have become just as much about creating a talking point as showing off nice bags and shoes. Versace's AW16 ad campaign released last week is no different. Donatella Versace enlisted photographer Bruce Weber for the first time in 17 years to create a family-centric set of images starring Gigi Hadid ,21, and Karlie Kloss, 23, alongside their imagined children and boyfriends. 
A leather-clad Karlie Kloss is seen exiting a car with two children- who are definitely around school age- and a partner, while Hadid walks through Chicago holding her "son's" hand as her fictional boyfriend/ husband/ baby daddy pushes their "daughter" in a buggy. This glamorised spin on real-life is a  world away from the previous autumn/winter campaign which showed models lying in the snow in animal-print bikinis.

 

The campaign is all about 'real life'

 "With my collections, I’ve been thinking more and more about the real life of Versace, and the complexity of women’s lives," Donatella Versace explains to The Telegraph of her thinking behind this campaign. "They run their own business, look after their family, travel, share time with friends, all often in the same day. I wanted to show the fullness of the Versace life in our campaign, and Bruce was the only photographer who could capture that mood."
 

Why it's controversial

The campaign has sparked plenty of reaction online, with many complaining that it's unrealistic to show twentysomethings Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss as mothers especially given that the age of children they're posing with means they'd have given birth aged 16 or younger. Meanwhile others have claimed it's racist to show Hadid front and centre with a black partner and children, one of whom is chained into its buggy- that those people "really need to get a grip. You're looking for something that isn't there."
"My name is Versace - I don’t know how to do things quietly," Donatella reasons, "that is just my blood and my family. We make a noise, shout loud, never hold back on our opinions. This is why our campaigns have always been so bold, because my family has always provoked. Life would be so boring if we all did the same thing."

 

Versace has always worked with supermodels

Given Versace's long-history of working with the biggest supermodels of the day- her brother Gianni was famous for forming close partnerships with the likes of Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss who would always walk in his shows- it's hardly surprising that Hadid and Kloss are the no-brainer choices for Versace now.
But Donatella says it's more about the models' integrity and attitude than just their impressive follower count and fame. "Versace is about individuality. It is about believing in yourself and showing your true character to the world. I love Gigi and Karlie because of their amazing strength of character. They are their own women who will not compromise their individuality for anyone. I wanted to create imagery that was all about their brilliant individuality."
 

Weber's 90s ads

When Weber and Versace worked together almost twenty years ago, their work was equally provocative. Think- a topless Helena Christensen being touched by a male model as she takes pictures of him, mixed race couples embracing and not wearing very much and a denim campaign which shows a line up of groins pressed up against each other. In short, just the sort of thing which would still elicit a reaction now. 
"Shooting our first campaigns with Bruce are some of my most special memories of my Versace life. It was a different time then, no constrictions or constraints," the designer says of how much has changed since they last worked together. "We could shoot for days, dream big, make the impossible happen. We travelled to the most exciting places in the world, such as Buenos Aires. It was in the days before digital, and no-one had cameras on their phones. It was a magical time."

 

Why Donatella loves Gigi

Gigi Hadid starred in her first Versace campaign last year, and has opened and closed several shows for the house so is now a firm favourite. "As soon as I met Gigi, we clicked," Versace says of her relationship with the model. "I love that feeling when you meet someone new, and you know straight away you’re going to be friends. Gigi is a true supermodel because not only is she stunningly beautiful, she is also gracious and works incredibly hard. She is a natural supermodel, and a perfect Versace woman."
Hadid's huge following online (she has over 18 million followers on Instagram) is often regarded as a key part of her supermodel status. 61 year-old Donatella joined Instagram herself a year ago, posting her first selfie on set of the AW15 campaign with Gigi. "It was a very happy coincidence that my first post was with someone who understands social media so well," Versace explains. "So many people are scared of Instagram or social media, but it’s amazing to watch young people today and see how much it is a part of their lives. The new way that they communicate is very inspiring to me. They are so curious about the world, following people of so many different nationalities and backgrounds. Getting to know Gigi has made me fall in love with social media, and the new way it lets me see the world."

 

Gianni Versace: 15 thing You didn't know!

 

15 Things You Need To Know About Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace: the genius who went away too soon. He was the man who revolutionized the ’90s glamour, his dresses were worn by the most important figures of that time, by supermodels, celebrities and even Princess Diana.
Although he was not an instant hit, Versace managed to build a fashion empire with hard work and dedication that still thrives today, thanks to Donatella, a woman who has suffered so much and yet had enough strength to find her demons and finally win.
The Italian designer will never be forgotten by the fashion world due to his power to reinvent and his original, sometimes even risque designs.
Although Gianni’s life was rather public, there are some things you didn’t know about Gianni Versace. Keep reading!

  

1. His mother introduced him into the fashion world

Versace learned the art of sewing from his mother, Francesca, who was a dressmaker in  Reggio Calabria, Italy. After his apprenticeship at his mother’s business, Versace moved to Milan in 1972 to become a fashion designer. He was almost 26 at that time.

 

2. Medusa

Gianni Versace was greatly influenced by Greek mythology. After all, he was born in a place that was once called “Great Greece”. The brand’s logo represents Medusa, who in Greek mythology was a gorgon whose gaze with turn anyone into stone. Instead of hair, she had living venomous snakes.
However, he feminized her appearance. Rather than snakes, the logo features her beautiful hair and also her full lips.

 

3. Donatella was his muse

Gianni had an older brother, Santo and a little sister, Donatella. There was also an older sister who died when she was 12 because of an improperly treated infection.
While Santo was in charge with organizational tasks, such as communication, production, distribution and more, Donatella was a “muse and critic” for her older brother.

 

4. That dress

In 1994, Versace made Liz Hurley famous when she accompanied her ten boyfriend, Hugh Grant to the LA premiere of his film, Four Weddings and a Funeral. She wore a black dress held together by gold safety pins.

5. He appreciated Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Lacroix

In 1990, the year of his first Haute Couture collection, Gianni Versace was interviewed by Women’s Wear Daily.
During that interview he said that while he has no competition in Italy, the only designers go stiil gave him “energy to fight” were Yves Saint Laurent, Kard Lagerfeld and Christian Lacroix.                          
6. Dressing the best of the best
In the ’80s, Versace dressed musicians such as Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Sting, Eric Clapton, Prince and Sir Elton John.
Sir Elton John became a close friend of Gianni, who called him “a sweetheart” during a Vogue interview. Also, Sir Elton John appeared in The Sunday Times dressed in Versace.

           

7. Casa Casuarina’s pool

Versace purchased Casa Casuarina in 1992 for $2,9 million to become his residence in South Beach, Miami. He completely restored the house.
Versace reportedly had the pool made in Italy, then broken down in sections and mailed to the United States. The famous pool features 100 million Italian mosaic tiles and the pool statues were purchased from a 16^th century château in France.

  8. Family love

Although he did not have kids of his own, Gianni took great care of his nieces and nephews. In his will, Gianni left 50% of his fashion empire to Allegra, Donatella’s daughter. She inherited her stake, worth around half a billion dollars when she turned 18. His nephew, Daniel was given Versace’s artwork collection.

                   

9. Family feuds

Versace met his partner, Antonio D’Amico in 1982. In his will, Gianni left Antonio with a pension and the right to live in any of Versace’s homes. However, the homes belonged to the company and not Gianni himself but Antonio managed to get a part of the pension and a restricted right to live in the homes.
Apparently, Donatella was never close to Antonio. After Gianni’s death she said :“My relationship with Antonio is exactly as it was when Gianni was alive. I respected him as the boyfriend of my brother, but I never liked him as a person. So the relationship stayed the same.”

                    

10. He wanted Donatella to carry on without him

Gianni was killed at the time he was working on his new collection with Donatella. In a statement, she said that although she could have walked away, Gianni would have wanted her to continue. And she did.

       

11. Wrong place, wrong time

Every morning, an assistant would go to a coffee shop to purchase Versace’s newspapers. However, on the 15^th of July 1997, Gianni decided to go there himself. He was shot by Andrew Cunanan on the steps of Casa Casuarina. At that time, Cunanan was already on FBI’s Most Wanted list.

12. The Mafia controversy

13 years after his death, a former member of the Calabrian Mafia, stated that Versace was actually murdered because of the money he owned to the Mafia. The Versace family responded to the allegations claiming they are “false and shameful”.

                 

13. Celebrating life

After his death, a benefit was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute in New York to celebrate the life of Gianni Versace. Also, 10 years later, a ballet performance was held at Milan’s La Scala opera house as a tribute for the late designer.

14. Health issues

Shortly before his tragic death, Gianni Versace was diagnosed with cancer of the ear. It is believed that that was the only time when the three siblings did not get along.

15. The funeral

Gianni’s family held a private memorial service the day after he died, in Miami. Then, the second memorial service was held in Milan and was attended by approximately two thousand people, including Naomi Campbell (Gianni’s favorite model), Sir Elton John and Princess Diana.

Donatella Versace: 5 Facts About the Fashion Queen

Versace is the crème de la crème of luxury brands. The Italian label, founded by the late Gianni Versace in 1978, has produced some of the most memorable looks in fashion history. The label also became an iconic symbol of sexy exuberance in the mid ‘80s thanks to its colorful and animal-print infused runway shows that featured supermodels such as , Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista.
 Sadly, however, the brand’s future came to a crucial turning point when Gianni was murdered by spree killer Andrew Cunanan in 1997. It was Gianni’s younger sister  who didn’t allow Versace to falter. Soon after his death, she took over as creative director of the brand, and since then the House of Versace has experienced a revitalization.

 

1. Family Business Since the death of Gianni Versace, the label has remained a family business. Along with acting as creative director of the label, Donatella is the vice president of the Versace Group and owns 20 percent of the brand. Older brother Santo Versace owns 30 percent, while Donatella’s daughter, Allegra, inherited 50 percent of the entire company. In 1998 Donatella presented her first runway collection in Milan; attendees included the likes of  Demi Moore, Boy George and Anna Wintour. The spring line opened up with a projected handwritten line in neon that read: ‘This show is dedicated to our brother Gianni.’ Donatella received a standing ovation at the end of the show.
2. Life & Kids In 1987 Donatella married Paul Beck, an American model. Beck first worked for Armani in the ‘80s and later met Gianni and Donatella and became a consultant for the brand. The pair had two children Allegra and Daniel. Although the two later divorced, Beck continued to work for Versace, and the two have an amicable relationship. “In the beginning, it was more difficult. But a while after you separate... you get over whatever makes you separated. I don’t think we could work in the same city together, though,” Donatella said about her ex.

 

3. The Dress Although Donatella had made a successful transition as head of Versace after her brother’s death, there was one major fashion statement that solidified her as a designer. In 2000 at the 42nd Grammy Awards Jennifer Lopez floored everyone by stepping out in a gorgeous “jungle” green, silk see-through chiffon dress. Lopez made the rounds on the red carpet, along with her boyfriend at the time Sean Combs, but the dress’ wow factor couldn’t be entirely seen. It wasn’t until she took the stage with actor David  Duchovny to present an award that audiences really got a load of the low v-cut gown, which stretched down below the navel. Needless to say, it was the dress everyone couldn't stop talking about. The Fashion Museum named it “Dress of the Year” in 2000, and it's considered the fifth best red carpet stunner in fashion history.

 

4. The Look It’s hard to pull off slick bleached hair, uber tight dresses, and a super tan all year long, but Donatella has been rocking it for decades—whether people like it or not. The 58 year old has been mocked for her appearance for ages, but she apparently doesn't mind. In 2010 comedienne Maya Rudolph poofed the fashion designer during her stint on Saturday Night Live, and Donatella responded with amusement. “I called Maya to give her some tips,” she told Joy Behar and added, “if you’re going to impersonate me, do it right.” When asked how she keeps young, she said in her thick accent: "Haven't you heard? I sleep every night in the deep freeze.
5. Versace Now While the brand is close to selling a minority share of the company to Italian investors, the Versace family is still very much in control of the fashion label. Today Versace is as relevant as ever and even recently did a collaboration with  H&M to create a collection for budget-conscious fashionistas.

 

And then there’s the Lady Gaga factor. She and Donatella have been seen together at various fashion events, but most recently the pop star incorporated her fashion counterpart in a song for her new album titled “Cake Like Lady Gaga.” In it she sings: I roll like Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga in this b*tch/ I roll all f*cking day, Donatella on your hoes/ Donatella got them clothes/ Donatella dat’s fo’sho. So what did Donatella think of this “love letter”? "I would like to thank Gaga for her geniality, creativity, incredible talent, and super bitchiness," she said.

 

Donatella Versace to Write Book On Versace History,

Must Read: Donatella Versace to Write Book On Versace History!

 Donatella Versace: fashion icon, designer and now, writer
The designer is set to debut a modern history of the Versace brand, chronicling her reign over the house immediately following the death of her brother, Gianni Versace in 1997. Jointly written with Maria Luisa Frisa, fashion curator and professor at the IUAV University of Venice, and Stefano Tonchi, W's editor-in-chief, the 336-page "Versace" (published by Rizzoli) gives an in-depth look at the brand though a myriad of firsthand accounts, runway images and exclusive backstage photos.
                 

Versace: 15 Things You Didn’t Know

Versace is one of the most recognizable brands in the fashion world. The brand is synonymous with both its creator, Gianni Versace, and his sister, Donatella Versace. However, despite the fact that Versace, as a brand, has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Versace.  

 

Number Fifteen: They Opened Their First Boutique in Milan. Specifically, it was opened in the Via della Spiga district of Milan in 1978.

Number Fourteen: Elizabeth Hurley Made the Brand Famous. Versace became a household name in 1994 after Elizabeth Hurley wore “that dress,” which was a black dress by Versace. The dress has its own Wikipedia page and was held together with what appeared to be large gold safety pins. The dress was made from silk and lycra fabrics.

 

Number Thirteen: They Are Responsible for Another Very Iconic Dress. While the black dress that Elizabeth Hurley wore in 1994 was voted the most iconic dress of all time in 2008, the green Versace dress that Jennifer Lopez wore in 2000 was voted the fifth most iconic dress of all time.
Number Twelve: The First Boutique They Opened Outside of Italy Was in Scotland. In 1991, Versace opened their first boutique outside of Italy. The boutique was located in Glasgow, Scotland.
Number Eleven: They Have a Luxury Hotel. In 1997, Versace was approached by Soheil Abedian of the Sunland Group in regards to a proposal to build a luxury hotel. In 2000, the first Palazzo Versace officially opened on Australia’s Gold Coast.

 

Number Ten: Gianni Versace Learned Fashion From His Mother. Versace’s mother was a dressmaker, and it was from her that young Gianni learned about fashion and design.
Number Nine: Versace Built a Fashion Empire in 10 Years. Within 10 years of opening their first boutique in Milan, Versace was worth more than $800 million. This is an incredibly impressive feat, even today. 

 

Number Eight: They Are Not Afraid to Use Different Materials. Throughout the years, the Versace brand has utilized many different materials in their clothing, including aluminum mesh, fused rubber, and fused leather.

Number Seven: They Were the First Brand to Connect Music and Fashion. Gianni Versace designed stage costumes for everyone from Elton John to Madonna, and he was the first designer to truly connect the world of fashion to the world of music. 

 

Number Six: Gianni Had Ear Cancer. Though Gianni was eventually murdered in 1997, he had been diagnosed with ear cancer before his death. After he died, Gianni left his lover, Antonio D’Amico, a lifelong pension of approximately $26,000 every month.
Number Five: Donatella Helped With the First Photography Campaign. In 1979, Richard Avedon joined up with Versace to help with their first photography campaign. Donatella helped to supervise the campaign.
Number Four: Brooke Shields Was 14 Years Old When She Appeared in Their Campaign. Shields was in an ad for Versace in the Fall of 1980. Though she was not seductively dressed, she still was only 14 years old at the time.

 

Number Three: Courtney Love Modeled for One of Their Ad Campaigns. You can see Courtney Love featured in an advertisement for Versace’s Spring 1998 collection. She was shot by Richard Avedon for the ad.
Number Two: They Designed Costumes for Several Theater Productions. Versace designed pieces for Donizetti’s Don Pasquale in 1984, Bob Wilson’s Salome in 1984, and Doktor Faust in 1989. The iconic fashion house also designed costumes for several ballets by Bejart between the years of 1984 and 1989.

 

Number One: They Have More Than 80 Boutiques Worldwide. Since its inception in 1978, Versace has opened more than 80 stores or boutiques around the world (as of 2013). In 2014, the Blackstone Group bought a 20 percent stake in the company, solidifying its profitable future in the years to come.

What's Donatella's Thought on FX's AMC Story?!

 Versace responds to reports of FX's ‘American Crime Story’ depicting Gianni Versace’s Murder!!

 

 Following a Deadline report that a new 10-episode “American Crime Story” will be dedicated to Gianni Versace’s murder in Miami in 1997, the Milan-based company on Wednesday pointed out that the installment is fictional. 

Asked to comment on the news, the fashion house said it had “neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming series about Versace. 
The series should only be seen as a work of fiction.” “Versace/Cunanan: American Crime Story,” from Fox 21, will be based on the book “Vulgar Favors” by Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth, according to Deadline. It will focus on the assassination of the designer by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who shot himself eight days later on a Miami houseboat.

 

The series comes on the heels of the Emmy-winning “People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” Filming is expected to start in Los Angeles and Miami next spring. The series is to be directed by Ryan Murphy, who also directed the opening episode of “People vs. O.J. Simpson,” but the actors who will play the title roles, including that of Versace’s sister Donatella, have not been selected yet, according to the report.