Donatella Versace turns 70 years: A legacy of resilience and reinvention
Two gunshots abruptly ended Gianni Versace 's life. On July 15, 1997, after returning from his morning walk to Casa Casuarina, his Miami Beach villa on Ocean Drive, the celebrated Italian designer was ambushed by a gunman. Two bullets struck him in the back of the head. Gianni collapsed on the white marble steps of his property and later died at the hospital.
At the time, Gianni's sister, Donatella Versace, was preparing for an upcoming fashion show. Upon hearing the devastating news, she immediately rushed to Florida. The future of the Versace brand seemed uncertain. Yet Donatella swiftly stepped up as chief designer, taking over the reins of the company. On Friday, May 2, she celebrates her 70th birthday.
The murder not only robbed Donatella of her closest confidant but also plunged her into a deep personal crisis. 'My brother's death was so brutal that I remained in a severe state of shock for years without properly processing it. I was his shadow—we lived together, both professionally and personally,' she once told Vogue.
Cocaine, cosmetic surgery, and depression
After taking over the company in 1997, Donatella—once Gianni's muse—faced immense pressure. Struggling with depression, her life became more defined by drugs and cosmetic surgery than by fashion. The industry harshly criticized her early collections as examples of garish luxury, and the company soon found itself deep in debt. Donatella's personal spending habits and reported diva-like behavior only added to the turbulence.
Born in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, Versace hit rock bottom during this period. British singer and close friend Elton John recognized her struggles and persuaded her to seek treatment for drug addiction. Following her time in rehab, her personal life slowly began to recover.
The road to recovery was difficult, but Donatella persevered. The company gradually regained its footing, and profits returned. Her flair for theatricality and pop culture left a lasting imprint on the fashion world. While her bold leopard prints and the iconic Medusa logo did not appeal to everyone, loyal Versace enthusiasts continue to invest thousands of dollars in her designs.
A favorite among celebrities
Once viewed merely as her brother's shadow and often mocked by critics, Donatella Versace transformed herself into an undisputed matriarch of fashion. Today, she is adored by some of the world's biggest stars. Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie have all worn her daring designs. In 2000, when Jennifer Lopez wore a plunging green Versace gown to the Grammy Awards, the public frenzy over the dress famously led to the creation of Google Image search.
Despite her success, Donatella often faced ridicule over her appearance. Critics targeted her smooth forehead, taut cheeks, platinum hair, and sun-kissed, heavily lined features. For years, her plumped lips, deep-set eyes, and bronzed complexion defined her look. However, late last year, her appearance made headlines again after fans noticed a surprisingly fresh and natural-looking photo posted on her Instagram account.
For months, tabloids speculated about her updated appearance. Was it clever retouching—or another cosmetic procedure? At subsequent public appearances, Donatella continued to display her refreshed look. 'Donatella has a new face,' one social media user commented, while another wrote, 'She looks absolutely fantastic.'
A farewell to Versace on the eve of her birthday
Donatella Versace boasts an impressive list of achievements. Under her leadership, the Versace brand grew into an even more powerful global force. Donatella herself became a living legend—Lady Gaga even dedicated a song to her—and she rarely misses a major red carpet event. Her name is recognized even beyond the fashion world.
However, just before turning 70 and after nearly three decades at the helm, Donatella stepped down as chief designer, passing the creative reins to a new generation. She now serves as Versace's chief brand ambassador, marking the end of an era.
Soon after her transition, Italian rival Prada acquired the Versace brand. Donatella appears at peace with the shift. She posted a photo on Instagram alongside Prada's matriarch, Miuccia Prada, writing that she intends to support the new era 'in every possible way.' One thing unites Donatella and Miuccia: for decades, both women have held their ground in Italy's historically male-dominated fashion industry.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion Network
5 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Giorgio Armani, convalescing, will absent from men's shows in Milan
Italian designer Giorgio Armani, "currently convalescing at home", will be absent from his two shows at Milan Fashion Week presenting the men's collections for spring-summer 2026, his fashion house announced on Friday. The 90-year-old designer will therefore not be present at the Emporio Armani show scheduled for Saturday and the Giorgio Armani show scheduled for Monday. "In his absence, Leo Dell 'Orco, head of design for the men's collections, will greet the public at the end of the shows," the house said in a statement. Even in his absence, Giorgio Armani, who "has worked with his usual commitment on the collections to be presented", "will closely follow every step of the shows", it stressed. An empire-builder in the luxury goods industry, "il re Giorgio" ("King Giorgio") is a visionary designer who has distinguished himself in haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, perfumes, jewelry, interior design and luxury hotels in cities such as Milan, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. Rome, June 20, 2025 (AFP)
Fashion Network
6 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Giorgio Armani, convalescing, will absent from men's shows in Milan
Italian designer Giorgio Armani, "currently convalescing at home", will be absent from his two shows at Milan Fashion Week presenting the men's collections for spring-summer 2026, his fashion house announced on Friday. The 90-year-old designer will therefore not be present at the Emporio Armani show scheduled for Saturday and the Giorgio Armani show scheduled for Monday. "In his absence, Leo Dell 'Orco, head of design for the men's collections, will greet the public at the end of the shows," the house said in a statement. Even in his absence, Giorgio Armani, who "has worked with his usual commitment on the collections to be presented", "will closely follow every step of the shows", it stressed. An empire-builder in the luxury goods industry, "il re Giorgio" ("King Giorgio") is a visionary designer who has distinguished himself in haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, perfumes, jewelry, interior design and luxury hotels in cities such as Milan, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. Rome, June 20, 2025 (AFP)
Fashion Network
10 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Umit Benan is on a roll
The most happening brand in Milan this weekend is Umit Benan – who has been showing here for almost two decades, but who just accelerated several gears. A naturally gifted tailor, Turkish-born Benan opened a superb new Milan store on Friday – a rather beguiling blend of stainless steel and mahogany. Located on central Via Bigli 6, right opposite a brand-new Umit Benan showroom, where he showed his latest menswear and a debut women's collection. Back in 2007, he caused huge waves in Milan with his early 'Turkish gents goes international' collections. This year, however, he riffs on a golden era of Italian menswear – the eighties, with strong echoes of Gianni Versace, and above all, Gianfranco Ferré at their best. Bankrolling and overseeing this new moment is Umit's new partner Davide De Giglio, one of the founders of New Guards Group, known for holding the license to Off-White, the brand created by Virgil Abloh. Benan has had his ups and downs as a brand, but never creatively – always managing to dream up distinctive clothes. In the last few years, he concentrated on private clients – which included De Giglio – and it has helped him get a fresh new connection to the final consumer. Other Benan fans include Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Lewis Hamilton and Pedro Pascal. 'I have always managed to design to dress real people. Now, everything is much more high-end. My jackets and tailoring are made by Caruso,' underlined Umit, referring to the legendary menswear plant in Parma. That's upped the price point from about €1,200 to €3,000 for a jacket, and the result is an impeccable finish and hand. Knits are mostly made from yarn supplied by Loro Piana, while some very spiffy leather and nylon reversible jackets are manufactured in the Veneto. The clothes are classy and stylish but never predictable, more like runway looks than boutique clobber. 'I wanted that '80s silhouette, with a lightly padded shoulder line, like Ferré jackets, but not stiff. Working with top-quality fabrics and 60- or 70-year-old tailors, which is inspirational,' he smiled. The 45-year-old Turkish designer also showed a new women's line named Umit Benan Paradiso, ideal for St. Barth's or Punta del Este. In an incredible week for Umit's family, his wife just gave birth on Thursday to a baby boy named Kai, joining their two-year-old daughter Maia. Their family home is amid the canals of Navigli in south Milan, but his business is central. Especially his fab new store, finished with retro-modern steel coffee tables and chairs, great wicker armchairs and Beuys prints, curated by Thaddaeus Ropac. Underlining faith in the future, his deep-pocketed and experienced partner De Giglio has acquired a 55% stake in the house via D Capital, which also controls Santa Maria Novella, the famed Florentine pharmacy and perfume maker. 'What do I bring to Umit Benan? The most useful thing is the errors of the past in New Guards committed over ten marvelous years. That experience teaches above all what doesn't work,' De Giglio told Milan daily MF Fashion. De Giglio is on a roll himself, seeing as he helped finance Hailey Bieber's cosmetic brand Rhode, which was just sold for $1 billion. Next stop for Benan – boutiques in London and Los Angeles. 'But please don't call them stores; they are points of connection,' concludes Umit.
