In a serious shift for the style world, Donatella Versace has introduced her resolution to step down as artistic director of Versace, a task she took on after the tragic loss of life of her brother Gianni Versace in 1997.
Reflecting on her decades-long tenure, Donatella wrote on Instagram: “It has been the best honor of my life to hold on my brother Gianni’s legacy. He was the true genius, however I hope I’ve a few of his spirit and tenacity.”
As she embraces a brand new position as chief model ambassador, her departure marks the top of an period, with Dario Vitale, previously of Miu Miu, stepping in because the model’s new prime artistic officer.
“I’m thrilled that Dario Vitale can be becoming a member of us, and excited to see Versace via new eyes,” she wrote. “In my new position as Chief Model Ambassador, I’ll stay Versace’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and at all times in my coronary heart.”
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Donatella’s affect on trend stays simple. Her visionary designs not solely outlined the popular culture of the early 2000s but additionally cemented her fame as a pressure in luxurious trend.
Right here’s a glance again at a few of her most well-known designs on the purple carpet and past — and what she and the celebrities who wore them needed to say in regards to the appears.
Jennifer Lopez’s iconic ‘jungle gown’ on the 2000 Grammys
Jennifer Lopez on the forty second Annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 23, 2000. (Bob Riha Jr./Getty Photos)
Jennifer Lopez wore the now iconic inexperienced Versace “jungle gown” on the Grammy Awards — regardless of her stylist’s protests that it had already been seen.
“It was a gown that different folks had worn already. My stylist was like, ‘Please don’t put on it. Someone else has worn it,’” Lopez advised Vogue in February 2024. “I used to be like, ‘Nicely, you got it, and it appears one of the best, so I’m going to put on it.’ And so I did. And it brought on fairly a stir.”
Initially worn by Versace herself on the 1999 “Rock Model” Met Gala, Lopez in contrast the robe to Marilyn Monroe’s basic white halter gown in The Seven 12 months Itch. “I suppose each era wants its iconic form of Marilyn gown, and that is that gown for this era,” she mentioned.
Versace later famous how sudden the media frenzy was. “[The dress] was an sudden success,” she advised the Canadian Press in 2008. “The following day [Lopez] was far and wide with folks speaking about her in that gown.”
The web search demand for images of Lopez within the gown was so intense that it grew to become the catalyst for Google’s picture search.
Woman Gaga on the Tremendous Bowl in 2017
Woman Gaga on the halftime present of Tremendous Bowl in 2017. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
Gaga’s Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency featured a customized Versace ensemble that embodied her shut bond with the style home. Her stylist, Brandon Maxwell, advised Vogue on the time, “Versace has been an vital a part of [Gaga’s] trend historical past, so it was a pure option to work with them on the costumes.”
Even earlier than she hit the stage on the Tremendous Bowl, Gaga paid homage to Versace along with her 2013 observe “Donatella,” calling it a love letter to the designer. And in January 2018, she known as the designer “essentially the most fantastic buddy, and inspiration and luxury to my life” in a publish on Fb.
The admiration goes each methods. As Versace wrote of Gaga in 2014, “It means a lot that she finds energy and character via dressing within the Versace method. I’ve by no means experimented with totally different personas in the best way that she has. It makes me admire her much more.”
Angelina Jolie’s thigh-slip gown on the 2012 Oscars
Angelina Jolie arriving for the 84th Academy Awards on the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. (Ian West/PA Photos by way of Getty Photos)
Jolie’s 2012 Oscars outfit — a black Versace strapless robe with a thigh-high slit — rapidly went viral. The actress, who has a longstanding historical past of carrying Versace, advised Further in 2019 that she virtually did not put on the gown, planning to go together with one thing extra “difficult” earlier than going along with her final look.
In a March 2023 interview with WSJ Journal, Versace known as it certainly one of her most standout red-carpet moments.
“The leg went viral, the picture went in all places. Typically you don’t know which gown is one of the best, however whenever you see somebody carrying the gown, it will possibly grow to be incredible,” she mentioned.
Taylor Swift on the Grammys in 2016
Taylor Swift on the Grammy Awards in 2016. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
On the 2016 Grammys, Taylor Swift surprised in a two-piece by Versace.
“She wished a glance that was younger, horny and recent, as she is, completely reflecting her character,” the designer advised Billboard. “It was a pleasure to create this search for her. Taylor’s robe is the proper instance of how daring colour can create such an unimaginable impact.”
Swift’s affinity for Versace has solely grown, with Donatella praising the Versace-designed outfits the singer wore throughout choose numbers on her Eras Tour: “@taylorswift, you at all times shine in Versace. You rule that Eras stage with class and energy! ?”
Birtney Spears and the ‘butterfly gown’
Britney Spears on the Versace Spring 2003 runway present in Milan. (Fairchild Archive/Penske Media by way of Getty Photos)
Considered one of Britney Spears’s finest Versace moments was the “butterfly gown,” first unveiled in October 2002, which has since been described as a Y2K trend image.
Almost 20 years later, Versace mirrored on that period in an Instagram Publish: “I like that @britneyspears posted her favorite 2000s appears!! This flashback is from when she got here to my present in 2002, wanting glamorous in Versace? I’ll always remember whenever you got here and stayed with me Britney, you had been and can at all times be magical!!!!”
The 2 have stayed shut, and as for the gown itself, it returned to the highlight when Blake Full of life wore it to the New York premiere of It Ends With Us in August 2024.
Beyoncé’s ‘Loopy in Love’ outfit
In 2003, Beyoncé kicked off her solo profession along with her hit track, “Loopy in Love.” Within the music video, one of many standout trend moments options vibrant clothes from Versace’s Spring 2003 assortment.
Stylist Ty Hunter recalled that Donatella generously offered your complete assortment for the video, telling Vogue, “Donatella [Versace] despatched us the entire assortment. We wished to create a complete trend second round it.”
The enduring standing of the gown was secured when Zendaya paid homage to Beyoncé on the 2021 BET Awards by carrying a Versace robe much like one of many clothes Beyoncé wore for her “Loopy in Love” efficiency on the 2003 BET Awards.
On the time, Versace praised Zendaya’s tribute, commenting on Instagram, “@Zendaya!! You regarded simply SENSATIONAL final night time on the BET Awards. I am going to always remember Beyoncé carrying this in 2003. A tricky act to observe however you aced it effortlessly!” ?
Jennifer Garner in 13 Happening 30
Jennifer Garner in a scene from 13 Happening 30. (Columbia Picutres/Everett Assortment)
Within the 2004 movie 13 Happening 30, Jennifer Garner’s character wears a Versace mini gown through the unforgettable “Thriller” dance sequence. The gown has since grow to be a beloved staple of early 2000s trend nostalgia.
Costume designer Susie DeSanto recalled the choice course of to CNN, explaining, “It was simply the gown that obtained picked. [Garner] put it on, we obtained her all dolled up, she went to bounce, and we moved on. We had been busy.”
Over time, the gown — a variation of a glance from Versace’s spring/summer season 2003 runway present — has remained a popular culture favourite. Ariana Grande paid homage by carrying an an identical Versace gown throughout an look on The Voice, a second that Garner later mentioned made her really feel “heat and fuzzy” figuring out that it nonetheless resonates with followers.
Regardless of its reputation, the unique gown has mysteriously disappeared. In 2023, Garner joked that she could have noticed it on a background actor in Intercourse and the Metropolis, including to the mystique surrounding the now misplaced piece of trend historical past.
