June 11, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SUMMER 2010)
BORN: May 2, 1955; Reggio Calabria, Italy
NATIONALITY: Italian
LABELS: Versace, founded by brother Gianni Versace in 1978. Creative director since 1997, Versus.
MISC: There are currently 81 Versace boutiques in the world. Was the first to use notable celebrities to broadcast her clothing. In September 2000, Palazzo Versace, a hotel opened it’s doors in Queensland, Australia.
From rock chick to svelte sophisticate, Donatella Versace has come a long way since that dark day when her brother was murdered and she took up the reins of one of the greatest labels in the fashion world. It was not easy and she had her own private demons to contend with, as well as wrestling with a vast and over-extended business. She tamed them all with time and she now sits on top of an increasingly strong business that is her creation alone and looks back to the old days merely in her devotion and admiration for all that her talented brother achieved. The throne she sits on is totally appropriate for a designer who, with courage and style, has recreated herself and the Versace product. Anointed by tragedy as one of fashion’s queens of creation, Versace has made her own mark, not just as a fashion designer but as a woman. Like Madonna, she is known across the globe simply by her first name, as Donatella…
That tells us everything. There is no higher accolade and it reflects the affection she engenders in people of all kinds and creeds. In brief, Versace is one of fashion’s absolute superstars. She recently said to me that she was determined not to let her brother down and to make a business of which he would be proud. And that is exactly what she has achieved.
The Versace woman is a sultry, sophisticated charmer who knows how to please her man while using her female wiles to get everything she wants from life. She is an ultra-feminine nurturer, as well as a femme fatale. And that is the basis of her success.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING 10 YEARS AGO?
“Well… I think I was preparing the AW 2001-02 Versace campaign with Steven Meisel, Amber Valletta and Linda.”
HOW HAS YOUR APPROACH TO FASHION CHANGED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS?
“In the past 10 years my approach to fashion became more confident. I’ve found the right way to express myself, my creativity. I always designed sexy and glamorous clothes, which is the Versace DNA, but what I’ve done is interpret our DNA in a contemporary way.”
IN WHAT WAYS ARE PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND LIFESTYLE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
“From the outside, my life can be special and glamorous… Well, actually, sometimes it’s like this, because in fashion when you are a creative director of a house, you live in an international world and you can be a star. But, in fact, I spend lot of time with my friends and with my family and this is very important to me.”
TEN IS CONSIDERED A TALISMANIC NUMBER. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
“I don’t really consider numbers as talismanic… I see 10 as a goal: what I’ve done in the past 10 years and what I’ll reach in the next 10.”
FASHION IS CHANGING RAPIDLY. HOW WILL IT AFFECT YOU IN HOW YOU PRESENT YOUR CLOTHES IN ORDER TO REACH THE MAXIMUM AUDIENCE – AND HOW WILL THAT AUDIENCE DIFFER FROM THE TRADITIONAL AUDIENCE?
“Especially today, we have to excite the consumer, we have to show that our ideas are new and fresh. The internet and new medias in general are a great way to join this new kind of client. Now people are more confident and they know exactly what they want to buy.”
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG – SAY, 10 OR A TEENAGER – WHAT WERE YOUR AMBITIONS?
“It’s difficult to me to say something different from fashion. I grew with my brother Gianni and he used to create clothes for me. I was always with him, breathing his love for fashion.”
OUTSIDE OF FASHION, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY OR SAD?
“To have fun with my sweet dog Audrey and listen to music. This is so relaxing to me.”
WHAT ARE THE TRUE INSPIRATIONS FOR YOU – IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR DESIGNING?
“Well… In designing, my inspiration comes from different things, such as art, travelling, music or movies, but in my life, my family and my friends are the place where inspiration comes from.”
IF YOU COULD SPEND 10 DAYS TOTALLY AWAY FROM FASHION AND YOUR PRESENT LIFE HOW WOULD YOU SPEND THEM?
“Ten days of white sand and blue sea… Ten sunny days!”
IN TEN YEARS’ TIME WHAT SORT OF LIFE DO YOU EXPECT TO BE LIVING?
“For sure I’d love to spend more time with my friends. In 10 years I’m sure my children will have their own lives. I also really would love to travel as much as possible, because I love to visit very different countries, that’s one of the things I enjoy most.”
by Colin McDowell
Photograph by Alexei Hay
