The year is 1997. The fashion world is rocked by the sudden murder of Gianni Versace, founder of the Versace fashion house. In the wake of this tragedy, Gianni’s sister (and ultimate muse) Donatella Versace steps into his former role. With many doubters dismissing the choice as a ‘sentimental appointment’ (long before ‘nepo baby’ was a buzzword), Donatella defied expectations and spent the next 27 years shaping Versace into the luxury fashion powerhouse it is today – becoming a global icon herself in the process. And now, on 1 April 2025, the Donatella era is officially coming to an end as the 69-year-old fashionista steps down as Chief Creative Officer – announced last week by Versace’s U.S. owner Capri Holders. As former Miu Miu design director Dario Vitale prepares to take the creative reins at Versace, the question that remains is: How will Versace look without the woman that has become almost synonymous with the brand for almost three decades?
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Did Donatella’s Exit Begin With Versace’s Sale?
As news of Donatella’s exit broke, everyone from Bella Hadid to Jennifer Lopez took to Instagram to sing praises and recount memories shared with the fashion maven. Donatella knew what it took to create a spectacle, whether on the runway or on a red carpet. During her reign, Versace had a fervent appetite for creating milestone pop culture moments – with Jennifer Lopez’s plunging jungle green dress literally leading to the creation of Google Images! And with her signature platinum blonde locks and indelible aura of feminine power, Donatella soon became as notorious as the stars who wore her. But through it all, she still remained a loving sister wanting to make her beloved brother proud – ultimately steering Versace to new heights with her own distinct touch.
Rumours of Donatella possibly stepping down from her role one day can be traced as far back to 2018, when Capri Holdings (formerly Michael Kors Holdings) acquired Versace in a $2.1 billion deal. Although word of Donatella’s contract as Chief Creative Officer ending in February 2025 was already circulating by late 2024, the official announcement was still met with shock. While the legacy Donatella created with Versace is undeniable, it’s clear that the brand’s top brass is looking toward the future.
Can Dario Vitale Revive Versace’s Spark?
With the appointment of respected designer Dario Vitale – who played a key role in Miu Miu’s recent success – it seems that the Versace we’ve come to know may be facing a bit of a transformation. Being that the brand is said to be struggling in attracting new clients post-pandemic, with stagnation in its accessories and once-thriving menswear department, expectations are high for Vitale to bring a different perspective to Versace and revitalise the house’s legacy.
Having long been a supporter of emerging designers like the now-renowned Jonathan Anderson, Donatella commented that “championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me. I’m thrilled that Dario Vitale will be joining us, and excited to see Versace through new eyes.” Indeed, while she may be stepping down from her current position, Donatella won’t be going very far as Capri Holdings has confirmed her new role as Chief Brand Ambassador. However, with rumours swirling around Prada Group’s potential bid for ownership of Versace (only bolstered by the fact that Miu Miu is a Prada sister brand), the future of the brand’s restructuring may remain up in the air.
A Fashion Powerhouse Signs Off
While speculation continues on whether this move has always been part of Donatella’s succession plan – or if she was unequivocally ousted from Versace by its new owners – one of the top female designers in the modern fashion industry will be ending her era. Although womenswear presumably rules the fashion world, the top roles in a majority of today’s luxury fashion houses are held by men. Ironically, many promising new female designers are now beginning to flock to menswear – but fashion remains a very male-dominated industry. As we enter the final weeks of Donatella’s era at Versace, we’ll be playing Lady Gaga’s ‘Donatella’ on repeat – #DonatellaVERSACE💜.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
