By Orianna Zancanaro

Versace is not just a fashion house. It is a world of its own, built on symbols, spectacle, and a fearless celebration of beauty. Since its founding in 1978 by Gianni Versace, the brand has stood as one of the boldest forces in fashion. It fused myth and modernity, art and pop culture, excess and elegance, in a way no other designer dared to attempt. For Gianni, fashion was never simply about clothes. It was about creating an atmosphere, a universe where the Medusa reigned as both muse and emblem, where every print, cut, and silhouette spoke of power, sensuality, and allure. That spirit survived tragedy, fueled decades of reinvention under Donatella, and now prepares to enter a new era under the creative vision of Dario Vitale.

<h2>Gianni. The Architect of the Empire</h2>
Gianni Versace understood fashion as total spectacle. His collections were celebrations of the human body, exalted through silhouettes that embraced sensuality without restraint. There were chainmail dresses that shimmered like armor, baroque prints drenched in gold, and Greco-Roman motifs reimagined with modern irreverence.
The Medusa, the house&rsquo;s emblem, embodied this philosophy. Gianni chose her because she represented seduction, power, and an irresistible fatal attraction. In her gaze he saw exactly what he wanted his creations to convey.
Under his direction, Versace built a true empire. Fashion, music, and celebrity merged in his shows. Supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer strode the runway to pop soundtracks and redefined what a fashion presentation could be. His vision also extended to architecture, most famously in his Miami mansion, Villa Casa Casuarina. With its mosaics, fountains, and Renaissance-inspired opulence, the residence became both a temple of beauty and the stage of his personal life, forever linking his brilliance to its tragic history.

<h2>Donatella. The Guardian of the Myth</h2>
After Gianni&rsquo;s death, his sister Donatella Versace took on the daunting task of preserving the empire. For more than two decades she safeguarded the brand&rsquo;s DNA, defined by sensuality, excess, and theatricality, while translating it for new generations.
The Medusa remained the guiding symbol, reinterpreted across accessories, jewelry, and collections. Donatella also cemented Versace&rsquo;s role in pop culture. She created unforgettable moments such as Jennifer Lopez&rsquo;s green dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards, which famously inspired the birth of Google Images.
Her work was more than creative direction, it was an act of devotion. Every collection carried the echo of Gianni&rsquo;s vision, a tribute woven with both strength and tenderness. Donatella did not simply protect a brand, she honored her brother&rsquo;s dream while shaping a Versace for the twenty-first century. Today, although she has stepped aside from the role of creative director, she remains the heart of the house as its Chief Brand Ambassador, the living bridge between Gianni&rsquo;s legacy and the future that now begins under Dario Vitale.

<h2>Dario Vitale. The Future with a Fresh Eye</h2>
Now Dario Vitale steps in as the new creative director, and Versace opens a chapter filled with both reverence and renewal. His debut collection for Spring-Summer 2026 avoided the expected grandeur of a runway spectacle. Instead, Vitale chose intimacy and atmosphere, staging the show in lived-in spaces that seemed to whisper with the memory of Gianni. It was less about spectacle and more about creating an encounter, as if inviting the audience to step inside the private world of Versace.
The collection itself was a declaration of daring elegance. Vibrant reds, hopeful greens, metallic blacks, and rich denim tones anchored a palette that was both passionate and contemporary. The silhouettes carried echoes of the 1980s, yet they were reimagined with modern sharpness: cropped blazers cut close to the body, patchwork vests, and accordion-like details that revealed glimpses of the brand&rsquo;s inner codes.
What made Vitale&rsquo;s vision striking was the balance between homage and evolution. He embraced Versace&rsquo;s DNA, with its sensuality, drama, and unapologetic prints, but filtered it through an everyday lens. Clothes became less about perfection and more about humanity, alive with texture, movement, and intimacy. For Vitale, nostalgia is not a safe retreat, it is a compass to chart the future of Versace.

Versace Eternal

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