Fashion icon Donatella Versace has been working as creative director of the Versace Group since 1997.
Synopsis
Born in Italy in 1955, Donatella Versace grew up with two major fashion influences. Her mother was a dressmaker and her older brother, Gianni Versace, was a budding designer. She went to work for her brother in the late 1970s, serving as his muse and adviser. Donatella Versace became the designer for the company's Versus line in the 1980s. After her brother was murdered, in 1997, she became creative director of the Versace Group.
Early Life
Born on May 2, 1955, in Reggio Calabria, Italy, designer Donatella Versace is one of best known names in fashion today. She is the younger sister of the late designer Gianni Versace. Donatella and Gianni learned about designing from their mother, who had a dressmaking business. "I was the baby of the family," she later explained to The New Yorker. "I was so spoiled. I was the best-dressed little girl in the city."
Versace began developing her trademark look as a teenager—dyeing her hair platinum blonde and using copious amounts of dark eyeliner. She was remarkably close to her older brother, Gianni, who would take her out with him at night and make outfits for her to wear. Donatella attended university in Florence for a time, but she eventually reunited with Gianni to support his clothing business.
Fashion Muse
When Gianni Versace started his own fashion company in Milan in 1978, Donatella was right there by his side. Their brother, Santo, was also a part of the business. Gianni relied on Donatella for her advice about his designs, and she played an important role in orchestrating many Versace fashion shows and advertising campaigns. She helped bring some rock 'n' roll spirit and celebrity cache to the line through her friendships with Madonna and Elizabeth Hurley.
Versace also served as chief designer for the company's Versus line. She learned even more about the business in the mid-1990s, when Gianni battled cancer. In light of Gianni's recent health scare, the Versace siblings worked on a company succession plan. While Gianni won his fight against cancer, he lost his life in 1997 after being shot outside his home in Miami, Florida. Donatella was devastated by the death of her brother. Her daughter, Allegra, inherited 50 percent of the company from Gianni.
Top Designer
Days after Gianni Versace's death, Donatella was announced as Versace's new creative director. By this time, though, she had already taken a leading role in the business. "The last two years of Gianni's life," Donatella explained to New York magazine, "I was going up into his apartment, showing him the work, getting the approval from him, but I ran the company because he wasn't showing himself. It was like a year and a half I did everything."
Donatella has remained at the helm of the company's design vision ever since, helping to reinvigorate its product lines over the years. In 2009, she brought in Christopher Kane to design for Versus and reinvent the brand. After his departure, Versace collaborated with other upcoming designers on the line, also revamping the company's haute couture line Atelier Versace. Today, Versace markets a variety of product lines, from home goods to perfume, clothing and furniture. The company even operates two hotels.
Personal Life
Versace married former model Paul Beck in 1986. The couple had two children together, Allegra and Daniel, before separating. Their son was named after a song by Elton John, a close family friend. Known for her wild partying lifestyle, Versace battled drug addiction after her brother's death. "I couldn't stand the pain," she told Vogue. "I had to hide my feelings. What better way to hide your feelings than with drugs?" After struggling with cocaine addiction for many years, Versace sought treatment in 2004.
A pop-culture icon, Donatella Versace was spoofed on Saturday Night Live in a series of sketches, with actress/comedian Maya Rudolph playing the designer. Versace seemed to have a good sense of humor about herself, even calling Rudolph to give her advice. In 2013, it was announced that Versace would be portrayed by Gina Gershon in an upcoming television movie on the Lifetime cable network, House of Versace.
