Leadership changes in the industry are far from new, but this week’s developments promise to impact Hollywood red carpets in a substantive way — perhaps even starting with . You have to wonder whether stars placed panicked calls to stylists on Thursday, when she was stepping back from design duties to become the house’s brand ambassador, with former Miu Miu designer Dario Vitale taking over as creative director. (Fold in the fact that, minutes following Donatella’s announcement, the news broke that , and it’s enough to make any star’s stylist break into a cold sweat.
) “Championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me,” Donatella said in a statement released Thursday. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to carry on my brother Gianni’s legacy. He was the true genius, but I hope I have some of his spirit and tenacity.
In my new role as chief brand ambassador, I will remain ’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart.” Ultimately Versace has been a label tailor-made for Hollywood since Gianni Versace founded his house and opened an eponymous boutique in Milan in 1978.
Favoring vibrant colors, bold prints and unabashed detailing from the start, Gianni seemed ahead of his time, as far as Hollywood was concerned. “I like to tell stories with my clothes,” he once said. “Some are sadomasochistic, some are refined, some are violent, some are sophisticated.
Above all, my fashion has a message .