Will Hollywood Follow Donatella if She Leaves Versace?

by

In “The Devil Wears Prada,” there’s a moment when Meryl Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, is struggling to keep her high-fashion magazine job. During a coffee meeting in Paris, she discreetly passes a list to her boss that includes the names of designers, photographers, editors, writers, and models – all discovered, developed, and loyal to her, promising to follow wherever she goes if she ever decides to leave. Impressed, the boss reconsiders their decision, ultimately ensuring Miranda Priestly’s victory in this situation.

A friend who’s a stylist shared with me a memory, relating to Donatella Versace – the renowned designer and celebrity figurehead of her eponymous fashion house, serving in this role for almost three decades. There was a report in January suggesting that Versace’s contract with the brand’s owner, Capri Holdings, ends in February. The fashion world buzzes in Milan about whether this agreement will be extended.

Instead of focusing on Versace, 69, potentially leaving a company she built over decades following the shocking 1997 murder of her brother and founder Gianni, consider rephrasing it like this:

After sustaining and growing the Versace brand for decades after her brother’s tragic death in 1997, there is speculation about whether Donatella Versace might step down. What makes this intriguing is the question of what exactly she might pass on if she were to depart the company.

One entertainment executive remarked, while preferring to remain unnamed, that Donatella isn’t simply a skilled designer – she is and has always been the caretaker of the Versace universe. This role embodies her exceptional talent, which attracts those wanting to collaborate with her.

Versace’s identity has always been strongly linked with celebrities. In the past, the brand made headlines worldwide with its ’90s models like Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Cindy Crawford, and it also elevated music icons such as Madonna, Cher, and Elton John to high fashion status. Many publications in the style world point out that the red carpet was significantly impacted when Cindy Crawford wore a striking Versace gown in fiery red to the Oscars with Richard Gere in 1991. Similarly to Priestly’s influential list, the Versace brand continues to be defined by the exceptional talent that seeks out Donatella and her designs.

In the previous year, notable figures from the film and music industries made a strong impact by sporting Versace. Following Anne Hathaway’s continued role as a brand ambassador for Versace, she reinvented her image through eye-catching latex designs and hairstyles reminiscent of “Valley of the Dolls”. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter donned Versace during her induction into Time magazine’s list of 100 Next most influential individuals. Lastly, Beyoncé marked the beginning of her “Cowboy Carter” phase with a vintage Versace outfit featuring Western-inspired elements.

The Fall 2023 collection reveal by Donatella Versace in West Hollywood, right before the Academy Awards, could be best exemplified as such: “A rainy prediction required the Versace team to shift their plans a day ahead. The ability to gather such an illustrious guest list despite these last-minute alterations demonstrates the eagerness of the stars to associate with Donatella’s endeavors. Adjusting schedules during the whirlwind of pre-Oscar events is, in Los Angeles terms, akin to donating a kidney.” With Dua Lipa, Cher, Miley Cyrus, Hathaway, Channing Tatum, and Lil Nas X gracing the front row.

The iconic Versace label could potentially shift to a designer-for-hire role, similar to how other renowned design houses with living founders operate (Versace and Miuccia Prada are the only ones still leading their own brands in today’s market). Recently, it was reported by WWD, a sister publication of EbMaster, that Capri Holdings is considering selling Versace, as well as its other popular brand Jimmy Choo. Capri could certainly draw parallels with successful rejuvenations, such as the one Demna Gvasalia has accomplished at Balenciaga. Notable young designers have been nurtured by Versace herself, including Christopher Kane and up-and-coming designer Jonathan Anderson. However, it remains to be seen if a Versace without Donatella would retain its allure.

If Capri were to unveil a groundbreaking design, Donatella might effortlessly secure financing for a fresh collection. Several talent brokers I conversed with suggested that any of the prominent agencies could significantly broaden her influence in media and consumer goods. Despite a 2016 retrospective heavily emphasizing photography, Versace has yet to publish a substantial memoir chronicling Donatella’s life. The publishing rights, film adaptations, and stage productions based on Donatella’s life story could command high prices, particularly given the celebrity angle. Her life experiences were only partially delved into in Ryan Murphy’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” but it did address aspects such as her lifestyle, self-doubt, and the sexism Donatella has encountered as a designer. Penélope Cruz garnered nominations for Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG awards for her portrayal of Donatella.

This statement discusses Saint Laurent’s involvement in various content areas such as scripted and unscripted programming, beauty products, and fragrances, particularly in today’s closely connected fashion and entertainment industries. Notably, Saint Laurent has been secretly producing films for a number of years. Recently, Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault finalized a $7 billion deal with talent agency CAA. It is also mentioned that Donatella Versace designed a dress that was so extraordinary it sparked the invention of Google Images, leading to speculation about her intentions regarding Versace.

The discussion revolves around Saint Laurent’s ventures in diverse fields like movie and TV production, cosmetics, and fragrances, especially given the strong bond between high fashion and showbiz nowadays. Interestingly, Saint Laurent has been covertly working on film productions for quite some time. Moreover, just 18 months ago, Kering’s CEO François-Henri Pinault sealed a $7 billion agreement with talent agency CAA. However, Donatella Versace’s decision to leave Versace is being questioned since she designed a dress that inspired the creation of Google Images.

A representative from Versace declined to comment on the current state of Donatella’s agreement. For now, we await further information on this matter, just as Miranda Priestly might advise.

Read More

2025-01-21 21:47