Donatella Versace Announces Her Departure From Versace, After Almost 30 Years At The Helm
The iconic fashion designer is stepping into the role of chief brand ambassador, while former Miu Miu design director Dario Vitale takes on the position of creative director
In an announcement that made the fashion world collectively intake breath, Versace has announced today that Donatella Versace will be stepping down from her role as creative director of the iconic Italian fashion house. While she will continue her relationship with the house in a new capacity as chief brand ambassador, she is officially stepping away from her creative duties. Steering the maison’s creative vision will be former Miu Miu design director, Dario Vitale.
“Supporting the next generation of designers has always been a priority for me, and I’m thrilled to welcome Dario Vitale to the Versace family. I’m excited to see the brand through new eyes,” Donatella said in a statement. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible design team and everyone at Versace who has been part of this journey with me for over three decades.”
The designer also took a moment to honour the legacy of her late brother, Gianni Versace, who founded the brand. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to carry on my brother Gianni’s legacy,” she said. “He was the true genius, but I hope I carry some of his spirit and tenacity with me. As chief brand ambassador, I’ll continue to be Versace’s most passionate advocate. Versace is in my DNA and will forever hold a place in my heart.”
Dario Vitale, the newly appointed creative director, also shared his excitement about joining the prestigious house. “I am truly honoured to become part of Versace, a luxury house created by Gianni and Donatella that has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry,” he said. “The Versace legacy is unique and has shaped fashion history for decades. I would like to thank Donatella for her trust and for her tireless dedication to making Versace the extraordinary brand it is today. I’m privileged to contribute to its future growth and global influence with my vision and expertise.”
This shift marks a new chapter for Versace, as the brand looks to evolve while staying rooted in its storied heritage. Founded by the legendary Gianni Versace in 1978, the maison has had some extraordinary, history-making moments in every decade. In the 1990s, Versace played a central role in the rise of the supermodel era, with iconic figures like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Claudia Schiffer walking his runway. Elizabeth Hurley helped make the brand a household name when she wore the famous black Versace dress held together by safety pins to the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994, but it was in 1997 that Donatella was anointed to steer the maison, following the shock assassination of her elder brother.
Versace soon flourished under Donatella’s leadership, presenting its first haute couture collection in 1998, and shortly afterwards distilling its ultra-opulent DNA into a collaboration with H&M; bringing the maison’s iconic Medusa logo to the masses for the first time. In 2018, the death of Gianni Versace was explored in the hit fashion biopic The Assassination of Gianni Versace, the same year that the brand went public, allowing it to expand its reach while staying true to its luxury heritage. Today marks the next chapter in the maison’s legacy, and the industry will wait with baited breath to see the first collection crafted under Dario’s creative leadership – watch this space.
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