The Italian entrepreneur and fashion designer worked for her brother Gianni Versace’s fashion house, founded in 1978, where she established her own “Versus” line in the 1990s. Since the violent death of her brother in 1997, Donatella Versace has continued the family business, first as Vice President and Chief Designer and later as CCO. However, in mid-2004 her majority stake (45%) passed to her then adult daughter Allegra Versace Beck. Donatella himself held 20% of the shares. She was now largely responsible for the continued success of the house. In 2005 she received the Women’s World Award in the World Fashion Award category. In 2018, the Versace company was sold to Capri Holdings. Donatella Versace’s contract as Chief Creative Officer was taken over in this context…
Donatella Versace was born on May 2, 1955 in Reggio Calabria in the southern Italian region of Calabria.
Her mother ran a tailor’s shop, in which the older brother Gianni Versace lived out his interest in fashion at an early age. As a teenager, Donatella was already the model for her brother Gianni, who made his own clothes for her. After school, Versace followed her older brother to Florence to study Italian literature at the university there in the 1970s. At the same time, she supported Gianni Versace as a designer when he began his career as a fashion designer. Together with her brother, Donatella Versace moved to Milan, where she worked for his fashion company, founded in 1978. Her second brother, Santo Versace, also worked for Gianni Versace. In 1993, for example, Donatella Versace created the “Versace Young” line for children and young people. Then she worked as chief designer for the Diffusion label “Versus”.
After Gianni Versace’s violent death in 1997, Donatella’s daughter, Allegra Versace-Beck (b. 1986), became the main heir to the fortune and owner of 45% of the family business. Until she came of age, however, her mother took over the management of the creative department as chief designer, while her second brother, Santo Versace, as the owner of 30% of Versace shares, provided the new chairman of the board. Donatella Versace presented her own work for the first time with the spring 1998 collection. She led the fashion house into the new millennium, making it successful through collaborations with prominent personalities from international music culture such as Madonna and Sting. Donatella Versace was in a relationship with former model Paul Beck for a number of years. With him she has a son (Daniele) in addition to daughter Allegra.
When Allegra came of age on June 30, 2004, Donatella and Santo Versace initially continued the business of the company. While the main heiress continued her education at a private school in Milan, Donatella continued to serve as Vice President of the Versace Group and as Style & Image Director. Santo Versace still provides the chairman of the board. In July 2004, the designer hit the headlines because of her alleged drug addiction: In order to free herself from her cocaine addiction, Donatella Versace went to a special clinic for withdrawal. From October 2002 to January 2003, Gianni and Donatella’s best-known Versace clothing was featured in a special exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In autumn 2004, Donatella Versace was awarded the Bambi for her extravagant fashion style.
In November 2004, the singer Madonna presented the new Versace collections at a PR appearance in London. In 2005 she received the Women’s World Award in the World Fashion Award category. In 2013, the story of the family was filmed for television under the title “House of Versace – A Life for Fashion”. In the same year, 2013, US singer Lady Gaga dedicated the song “Donatella” to Versace, which appeared on her album “Artpop”. Meanwhile, she became a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2017 she was honored as “Fashion Icon of the Year” at the British Fashion Council’s The Fashion Awards. In 2018, the Versace company was sold to Capri Holdings. Donatella Versace’s contract as chief creative officer was taken over at the same time. In November 2018 she received the “Fashion Icon Award” at the GQ Awards Berlin.
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What is Donatella Versace best known for?
Donatella Versace, in full Donatella Francesca Versace, (born May 2, 1955, Reggio Calabria, Italy), Italian fashion designer whose roles at Gianni Versace SpA included vice president and artistic director and whose contributions—business and artistic—furthered the company’s sophisticated high-end image.
Who is the real owner of Versace?
Donatella Francesca Versace (born 2 May 1955) is an Italian fashion designer, businesswoman, socialite, and model.
Does Donatella still own Versace?
He was survived by Donatella and Santo and their children. Gianni was especially close with Donatella’s daughter, Allegra. Donatella, Santo, and Allegra together became the sole heirs to the company after Gianni’s death, whether they wanted to be in the fashion industry or not.
Is Donatella Versace rich?
Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer who has a net worth of $400 million. Donatella is the younger sister of famed designer Gianni Versace and inherited control of his company, Versace, after he was tragically murdered in 1997.
