'Legendary' Versace Muse Claudia Schiffer, Loli Bahia & Mona Tougaard in SS2024 Campaign
/Original supermodel and “legendary’ Gianni Versace muse, Claudia Schiffer takes the star position in the Versace spring/summer 2024 campaign.
Friend to the house and close friend of Donatella Versace, Schiffer wore a similar Atelier Versace version of the dress to the recent premiere of the Argylle movie in London.
Photographer Mert Alas [IG] captures Claudia, who is joined by Loli Bahia, Mona Tougaard, and Fernando Lindez in the campaign spotlight.
Read MoreVersace Greca Goddess Top Handle Bag Is Headed to the C-Suite in Fall 2023
/Models Camille Chifflot, João Araujo and Luoyi come together in a new campaign for the debut of Versace’s [IG] Greca Goddess Top Handle Bag.
Defined by Italian leather artistry and a structural design, the architectural curves of the bag’s body are mirrored by an arched top handle crafted in tubular leather with angular cut ends. The signature Greca sits to the bag’s front above a metallic Versace logo plaque, both in the color of deep gold.
The model trio suits up in all-black, tailored sophistication for serious-minded achievers with an eye on the C-suite. The Greca Goddess bag was first introduced in Fall 2022.
Read MoreTapestry to Acquire Capri Holdings in $8.5 Billion Deal in Consolidating Luxury Sector
/An American fashion mega deal was announced today, August 10, in which Tapestry, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, will acquire Capri Holdings, home to Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo and Versace.
The purchase price is $8.5 billion and is not subject to any financial conditions. Tapestry has secured $8 billion from the Bank of America and Morgan Stanley to finance the deal, which will not close until 2024.
Capri, which has a market cap of just over $4 billion, reported revenues of $5.62 billion in fiscal 2023, down 0.7 per cent on the previous year’s record $5.65 billion. This performance is very subpar in the high-end luxury market, which has had a strong rebound in a post-COVID luxury retail landscape.
Read MoreDua Lipa and Donatella Versace Deliver May 2023 'La Vacanza' Magic in Cannes
/Beloved powerhouse designer with the jet set Donatella Versace chose a sprawling villa overlooking the French Riviera to showcase her ‘La Vacanza’ summer getaways and pre-fall 2023 collection. Château de la Croix des Gardes famously hosted the masquerade ball in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 thriller To Catch a Thief.
The debut was intense, given the influence of pop star Dua Lipa, who co-designed the collection laden with so many butterflies that the see-now-buy-now collaboration could have taken flight at a moment’s notice.
Butterflies Galore
All those polka dots are symbols of one of humans most beloved motifs. Butterflies have been a symbol of transformation, hope and faith for thousands of years. Add the models walking along an infinity pool and all say it was one of the most breathtaking fashion shows in many years.
Dua Lipa addressed the butterflies, specifically, saying they are a great symbol of freedom for her.
Frequent Versace photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] was on hand to capture the endless magic of a perfect May evening in Cannes, France, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Jacobs also shot the advertising photography with Dua Lipa featured here, with styling by Jacob K.
Read MoreVersace Fall 2023 Glamour for Los Angeles Times by Maya Fuhr with Gisselle and Saye
/The Los Angeles Times captures the shimmering, sophisticated style tableau with model Gisselle Hidalgo and Saye, styled by Keyla Marquez. Photographer Maya Fuhr [IG} imaged the Oscar-worthy sleek drama and shares on IG news of her show ‘Compersion’.
Nuvo Magazine interviewed the Canadian artist about her lifelong obsession with latex and voyeurism in her first LA show, now closed, at Gallery Sade. We share the press release.
The inspiration behind the new collection was the highly-influential 1995 and chic collection designed by Versace house founder and Donatella’s brother Gianni Versace.
Richard Avedon’s photographs of Kristen McMenamy captured an unusually chic and elegant Versace collection. Donatella told Vogue: “I wanted to go back to the cut and shape of the clothes, to concentrate on the perfect little black dress, the perfect black suit.”
Read MoreVersace SS 2023 Campaign-Pt 2 Lensed by Vito Fernicola Turns Up the Volume
/Croation model Lucy Markovic, Australian Riahn Griffiths and Sweden’s Vilma Sjöberg front the Versace Spring/Summer 2023 Campaign Part II. Donatella Versace’s edgy and rebellious women have turned up the volume, lensed by Vito Fernicola [IG]./ Makeup by Luca Cianciolo
With all the talk about celebrity fashion sightings replacing models, it’s worth remembering that it was Gianni Versace, who founded the luxury house in 1978, who had a big passion for grandiose spectacles with marketing campaigns to match.
Read MoreVersace Holiday 2022 Campaign with Lily McMenamy, Felice Noordhoff, Sora Choi
/The Versace [IG] Holiday 2022 Campaign stays true to Versace's deep roots in theater and the arts. Key inspiration comes from the 'Versace Teatro' books—collections of essays, and costume and stage design sketches from Gianni Versace created in 1987 and 1992.
For this year's campaign, Versace worked in collaboration with Franco Maria Ricci [IG], the art books publisher of the original 'Versace Teatro' books.
Photographer credit goes to Carlijn Jacobs [IG] with a cast that includes Brando Erba, Felice Nova Noordoff, Ismael Savane, Kit Butler, Lily McMenamy, Mila van Eeten, and Sora Choi styled by Jacob K.
Read MoreIris Law for Versace's 'Dylan Purple' Fragrance Lensed by Carlijn Jacobs
/Iris Law [IG] steps out of a 1990s Versace moment — perhaps convening with the spirit of Gianni Versace himself. Wearing an iconic purple Versace dress with its draped neckline and iconic hardware-embellished straps, Iris Law fronts the new campaign for Versace’s ‘Dylan Purple’ fragrance.
Photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] captures the IMG model daughter of English actor Jude Law and English actress, producer and fashion designer Sadie Frost, married from 1997 to 2003.
Read MoreVersace Resort 2023: Gritty, Rebellious, Impulsive and Energetic Glam in Acid Colors
/Versace Resort retains Gianni’s ultra-glamour vibe, but Gianni was never disheveled. Vogue expressed the difference between Donatella gritty undercurrent and Gianni’s impeccable glamazon identity by saying:
The quintessential DV look is that of a slightly disheveled, ultra-glamorous party lover—sort of “the morning after the night before.”
The Versace Resort 2023 prints and patterns are just spectacular. This is dopamine dressing on steroids, and it’s wonderful.
Read MoreLily James Leads Goddesses and Rebels in Versace Fall 2022/23 Campaign
/Goddesses and Regal Rebels dominate Versace’s Fall 2022/23 Campaign, led by ‘Pam & Tommy’ star Lily James. The Emmy-nominated James plays a Versace goddess in a summer where AOC has read the word ‘goddess’ from non-AOC sources at every turn.
Read MoreFendace Drops May 12 Worldwide with Top Models Campaign by Steven Meisel
/The highly-anticipated Fendace collection — a powerhouse, experiment between two great Italian fashion houses: Fendi and Versace — will drop on May 12, with a worldwide series of events and pop-ups.
The business synergy between these two iconic Italian brands is producing astonishing results — given that they are direct competitors owned by two mega-luxury fashion houses. LVMH is the majority stockholder in Fendi and Versace is owned by Capri Holdings.
Read MoreDonatella Versace Covers Vogue Italia March 2022 by Mert & Marcus
/Donatella Versace Covers Vogue Italia March 2022 by Mert & Marcus AOC Fashion
Donatella Versace in Vogue Italia
Donatella Versace covers the March 2022 issue of Vogue Italia.
Donatella has come light-years since the murder of her brother, shot on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion in July, 2997. Overnight, the sister of Versace was forced to take over creative direction of the Versace vision of female empowerment.
And while Donatella Versace has experienced a major metamorphosis since taking the reins of Versace, she shares with writer Giuliana Matarrese her vulnerability: "Interviews always make me a little nervous: among other things, I keep asking myself why you chose me for this cover, one day you will explain it to me".
Versace’s north star vision — pulsating with Italian blood — is lensed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and styled by Jacob K in Atsuko Kudo; Balenciaga; Christopher Kane — who designed Versus from 2009 t0 2012, covering a period of six seasons; Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello; Versace and more.
No More Shadow
Gianni Versace taught women not to be afraid of their sexuality, that it was a positive aspect of their DNA and identity. It’s a mantle that Donna Versace also wears. It’s important also to understand that Donatella finally feels free of Gianni’s death and his dominance over her life.
“My brother’s death was so brutal that I spent years in shock,” she explains, saying that she was Gianni’s shadow. “ I was insecure, I felt the eyes of the world on me, I felt in the air of distrust: I was there, to be the creative director, certainly not because someone had promoted me, but because I had to replace him.”
Rita Ora Covers Vogue Arabia February 2022 in Conversation with Donatella Versace
/Rita Ora Covers Vogue Arabia February 2022 in Conversation with Donatella Versace AOC Fashion
Singer, songwriter, actor, philanthropist Rita Ora covers the February 2022 issue of Vogue Arabia, styled by EIC Manuel Arnault in Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Miu Miu, Roberto Cavalli, Versace and more. Jeremy Choh [IG] is behind the lens for ‘Truth and Dare: Rita Ora in Conversation with Donatella Versace’, with creative direction by Amine Jreissati./ Hair by Lok Lau; makeup by Stoj
The two women come together in common dialogue for “Rita Ora and Donatella Versace Discuss Their Coming of Age, Breakthrough Moments, and Living Their Passions With Purpose”.
Bella & Gigi Hadid Join Donatella and Maluma in a Smashing Versace Spring 2022 Campaign
/The Versace Spring 2022 Campaign by Mert & Marcus is a sight to behold. W Magazine writes that it’s two years since the Hadid sisters have posed together for a photoshoot, and they look glorious. Gigi and Bella pose together and with Donatella because it’s all about the sisterhood.
Read MoreVersace Resort 2022 by Lea Colombo Delivers a Big Spirit, Mega Dose of Optimism
/Versace Resort 2022 by Lea Colombo Delivers a Big Spirit, Mega Dose of Optimism AOC Fashion
Donatella Versace demands that we put on our big-boy pants — and no granny skirts allowed — and march forward into optimism. “I think there’s a renewed sense of optimism right now and I wanted this collection to speak to that,” said Versace via email to Vogue about the 2022 resort collection. “This season is about having fun again and it feels right to put something positive into the world. We’ll never return to the old world or to the old ‘normal,’ there’s no going backwards. This is what the new now looks like to me.”
If COVID reality and raging white nationalism have dampened Donatella’s spirits seven months later, she’s keeping her angst under wraps in a mind over matter Versace Resort 2022 Campaign that has an infectious, optimistic spirit.
The Medusa has taken a psychedelic spin toward a Summer of Love, lensed by Lea Colombo [IG]. It may be 110-degrees in Puglia or its reverse — snowing in July seaside — but optimism is self-created, even when circumstances are dire.
If we’re not in denial and actively trying to save the planet, our heads are in the right place. If we’re still marching for social justice, the activewear should be polished.
We’re doing our best to find a new groove, inspired here by Versace models Akon Changkou, Alyda Grace, Habib Masovic, Kelvin Adewole, Kiki Willems and Ryan Park. Just make refusal your middle name, and we’re going to get through this.
NEVER let them see you sweat. That’s the AOC approach, and I speak from experience. ~ Anne
VERSACE JEANS COUTURE ‘Freedom Now’ Fall 2021 Campaign by Naguel Rivero
/VERSACE JEANS COUTURE ‘Freedom Now’ Fall 2021 Campaign by Naguel Rivero AOC Fashion
Models Fanta and Nanne front the VERSACE JEANS COUTURE ‘Freedom Now’ Fall 2021 Campaign, styled by Allegra Versace and Berenger Pelic in images by Naguel Rivero [IG].
Adit Priscilla and Tara Halliwell in Versace for The Face Magazine September 2021
/Adit Priscilla and Tara Halliwell in Versace for The Face Magazine September 2021 AOC Fashion
Danielle Emerson styles models Adit Priscilla and Tara Halliwell in Fall 2021 Versace, a geometric mix of ‘70s geometric patterns. London-based Will Scarborough [IG] captures the fashion story with the Italian fashion house’s updated La Greca pattern for The Face Magazine.
A new graffiti Medusa smiley is also making its Versace debut this season, a graphic that’s said to “champion the brand’s sense of humor and rebellious character”.