Donatella Versace out as creative director of Versace

ROME (AP):

Donatella Versace has been replaced as creative director of the Italian luxury fashion house founded by her late brother Gianni Versace, assuming the new role of chief brand ambassador, Versace’s US owner Capri Holdings announced on Thursday.

Versace will be replaced by Dario Vitale, who most recently was design director at the Miu Miu brand owned by the Prada Group. His appointment is effective on April 1.

Versace, 69, welcomed Vitale, emphasising in a statement that “championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me”, while Vitale, 41, thanked Versace for “her trust in me”.

DONATELLA’S LEGACY

Versace was thrust into the role of creative director in 1997 after her brother’s murder in Miami, at first tentatively and then with a boldness that led to some big runway and red carpet moments. They included a healing and celebratory tribute to Gianni Versace on the 20th anniversary of his death, featuring supermodels that he helped create alongside a new generation of celebrity model, and Jennifer Lopez in an even skimpier version of the jungle dress that nearly broke the Internet at the 2000 Grammys, reprised on the Spring-Summer 2020 runway.

Versace acknowledged the difficulty of her transition as she took from her brother, known for his sexy silhouettes and purposely loud prints and of the Versace Medusa and Greca motifs. Under Donatella, Versace became synonymous with the power woman she herself projected, despite periods of self-doubt.

“I asked why I took so long to find my way,” she told reporters ahead of the anniversary show. “The first few years I wasn’t sure of myself. I made mistakes. But you learn from your mistakes.”

The creative shift comes amid speculation that the Prada Group is in talks to buy Versace from Capri Holdings, which paid two billion euros (currently US$2.2 billion) for the fashion house in 2018. The US group also owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo.

Miuccia Prada acknowledged interest in the brand on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week last month, while Versace made no comment at what was to be her last runway show. Versace symbolically wore a vintage jacket that Gianni made for her in 1992, inspired by the powerful Miss S&M collection.

Capri Holding’s statement made no mention of any plans to sell Versace, but the arrival of a designer from Miu Miu is only likely to fuel speculation of a possible deal.