Donatelle Versace

International Fashion Designer - Donatella Versace…Is an Italian fashion designer and current Vice-President of the Versace Group. She is also chief designer of the Company.

Interesting fact - she owns 20% of the entire stock market assets of Versace. Her brother, Santo Versace owns 30%. Her daughter, Allegra Versace inherited 50% of the company stock after the death of Gianni Versace, Donatella’s brother, and Versace’s founder.

Donatella’s personal life and fashion debut

Versace was born in the Italian city of Geggio di Calabria. She is the youngest of four children.

In the mid 1970’s, Donatella followed her older brother, Giovanni - Gianni - to pursue knitwear design in Florence, Italy. She had planned to work for her brother as Public Relations, but she was more valuable to Gianni as a “muse and critic”. Through her closeness to her brother’s project, Donatella plunged into the fashion world. A decade later, during the 1980’s Gianni launched a perfume dedicated to her “Blonde”. He also gave her, her own fusion label, “Versus” which has been successful for more than a decade.

Donatella and her former husband, American model Paul Beck, have two children: daughter Allegra, she was born 30^th of June 1986, and their son, Daniel was born in 1989.

Murder of Gianni Versace - Donatella’s brother.

On 15 July 1997, outside the Versace mansion in Miami, Florida, Gianni Versace was shot dead by Andrew Cunanan...After the death of Gianni Versace, the whole Versace Family moved to a secluded private resort in the Caribbean, Cancelling the Versace Spring-Summer 1999 Collection as well as their indirect operations of the company.

The official funeral of Gianni Versace was held in Milan Cathedral.

Gianni stated in his testament, that Allegra Versace was to receive majority inheritance and titles of the company.

Interesting fact, more than 2000 mourners attended the funeral…among the 2000 mourners; there were famous fashion designers and celebrities, such as - Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfield, and Diana Princess of Wales, Naomi Campbell, Madonna, Courtney Love…and many more.

Donatella’s Career

Interesting fact - She has held cameo performances in many films and its industry, Such as Zoolander, The Devil wears Prada and Ugly Betty.

Donatella is the first to use famous celebrities to broadcast her clothing into the world, such as, on the catwalk and other public media such as advertisements. Another member of the growing Versace success was Santo Versace - Donatella’s brother. He is a fashion designer, and the owner of Finanziaria Versace, an established Versace branch.

Donatella soon proved to be the public relations giant within the Versace label, and spread its name throughout Europe and the most of the United States. She chose to place some of her good friends, such as Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Demi Moore in the Versace advertising sector, making them and other A-list celebrities such as Beyonce and January Jones the persona and image of Versace.

Her popularity grew when she designed the famous Versace Green Dress, also known as the Jungle-Dress, which was worn by Jennifer Lopez at the Grammys in 2000.

How you can get the look?                                                                                          The Versace look is all about the body -- plunging necklines, slits, short skirts. You need to feel comfortable showing off your assets.                                                

Baggy styles, androgyny, dull -- these are a few of the trends you'll never find at Versace.                                                                                                         

Choose strong, pure colors like white or black, for major impact, but don't be afraid of color like bright blue for some added interest.

Don't shy away from feminine florals, but make sure they are big, bold prints.

Dresses are a big part of the look -- choose a skirt length a few inches above the knee for newness.

Never pass up patent leathers, sheer fabrics, beads or sequins or glitter -- these are hallmark, "look-at-me" components!

Promotion and success…                                                                                               After Gianni’s death in July 1998, Donatella mounted her first couture show for Versace at the Hotel Ritz in Paris. She built her runway over the hotel’s swimming pool, as her brother had done every season, however this time using pure glass. She now oversees the production of a dozen collections each year…these days she is just famous for her celebrity entourage and glittering parties.

Under Donatella’s watch, the company has moved beyond clothing, to include fashion, accessories, home furnishing and hotels into a complete lifestyle brand. (The brand has confirmed cult status)

Here are some examples of hotels with the Versace furniture;

Branching into the other fields, the company has created the grand luxurious Palazzo resort on the Gold Coast of Australia. The interior of the hotel will be furnished with various Versace collections.

Another growing symbol of the Versace style, the world’s tallest building - which is in Dubai, boasts a broad collection of Versace furniture and beddings in its lavish rooms…

In October 2002, Gianni and Donatella’s most famously designed Versace clothing was displayed in a special exhibit of the Historical Victoria and Albert Museum of London, to be honoured for extraordinary fashion success and symbolism worldwide.

Awards…

In 2008, Donatella was made the honorary chairman for London’s fashion Fringe - judging upcoming talent.

In 2010, charity work earned her a Do Something with Style Award nomination from the VH1 Do Something Awards. She was nominated for providing art supplies to children and creating a “tote” bag.

Pictures of Donatella’s designs , accessories and pictures of het interior designs - furniture

Donatella Versace

 

Famous design by Donatella

(Jennifer Lopez)

Dress worn by Lady Gagga

Furniture