“Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.”
~Donatella Versace
When you’re a member of an established True Fashionista family such as Versace and all eyes are on you, you best show up. As the youngest sibling to late designer and label founder Gianni Versace, Donatella has made a name for herself as an award-winning designer, company mogul and collaborator, and philanthropist. Find many Versace pieces at Southwest Florida’s largest designer resale and consignment store, True Fashionistas.
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – BOUNCING BACK FROM TRAGEDY
In the wake of Gianni’s tragic assassination on the steps of his South Beach mansion in 1997, Donatella was named artistic director, overseeing the growth of the group’s luxury clothing lines alongside their expansion into accessories, home furnishings and hotels, building a luxury lifestyle brand which was forecast to hit $850 million in revenue in 2018. As both artistic director and vice president of the board, she oversees the global vision of the True Fashionista house, from its runway collections and image to its growth and future in the digital world. (Business of Fashion)
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – GIANNI’S LITTLE SIS HAS BIG PLANS
Born May 2, 1955, as the youngest of four children to father Antonio, a salesman, and mother Francesca, a dressmaker, Donatella studied literature and languages in Florence, Italy during the 1970s, but would commute to Milan every weekend to hang with Gianni. Although she had planned to eventually work for him doing public relations, he found her more valuable as a True Fashionista muse and critic. Make some Versace memories of your own at True Fashionistas, the best designer consignment store.
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – VERSUS
In 1989, Gianni launched two company divisions in Donatella’s honor, a perfume called Blonde and the house’s secondary line, Versus, which he described as, "born with an innate creative approach, with a strong focus on innovation, flair and the unconventional. (Versus is) an artistic force that takes present fashion forward, anticipating new trends and embracing challenge.” And Donatella had officially Arrived.
The first Versus fashion show happened in Milan in 1990, and from 1995 and 2003, each season's collection of ready-to-wear, accessories, eyewear, and watches were revealed in New York during NY Fashion Week. Versus set itself apart from its parent line for its distinctive rock-chic look that Donatella favored and used to influence the house's main collections.
In response to a sales downturn in 2004, Versus was reduced to a limited collection of accessories before its revival in 2009 with designer Christopher Kane at the helm.
Under Donatella’s leadership, Versus and its parent label Versace continued an upward trend, which you can see by browsing the selection at True Fashionistas consignment store, Naples.
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – ASSUMING LEADERSHIP
Donatella became head designer at Versus in 1994, and upon Gianni’s death three years later was the natural successor to the Versace label. In 1998, she debuted her first collection for Atelier Spring/Summer on a see-through catwalk held over the swimming pool at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. This unforgettable True Fashionista moment resulted in instant acclaim and approval from industry insiders.
As a tribute to Gianni Versace on the 20th anniversary of his death, Donatella enlisted '90s supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Claudia Schiffer to walk the runway in the lamé dresses that the brand made famous, receiving a standing ovation.
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – THE 2022 GRAMMYS MOMENT TO REMEMBER
We’ll all remember the iconic Versace moment at the 2022 Grammys: At the end of the show, shares WWD, Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion reenacted a priceless moment in music history when they walked onstage in matching Versace outfits, reminiscent of the time Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston wore the same brown gowns at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998.
Pretending to act surprised, they called on Ms. Versace herself, who just happened to be in the audience. Versace walked onstage and took off the longer skirts worn by the two artists to reveal two new, distinct looks, just as Carey and Houston did years ago.
“These are my girls,” Versace said before exiting the stage.
“Thank you, Donatella. Now we both look like winners,” Megan Thee Stallion replied, before she and Lipa announced the winner for Best New Artist Olivia Rodrigo.
HISTORY OF DONATELLA VERSACE – PHILANTHROPY AND ACCOLADES
An active philanthropist, Versace has extended a helping hand to many organizations over the years. In 2008 she was appointed as an honorary chair of London’s True Fashionista Fashion Fringe initiative founded by acclaimed journalist Colin McDowell. Versace also serves as patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and in 2010 was awarded a “Do Something” award by VH1 for her contributions to charitable work.
In December 2017, Versace was bestowed “Fashion Icon” honors during the Fashion Awards, then in 2018 she won the International award at the CFDA. That same year she was honored as “Designer of the Year” both by British GQ and by GQ China, and won another “Fashion Icon Award” at the GQ Awards in Berlin. She has also received the CNMI Award in recognition of sustainability at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in 2018.
Shop all things Versace and more at Naples’ best consignment store, True Fashionistas. Visit our Naples, FL store or shop online 24/7. Find the hottest labels in designer clothing, accessories and home fashion, authenticity guaranteed.