VersaceDesignersDonatella Versace
Cocaine, murder, a surgeon's scalpel, an ominous prophecy - the life of Donatella Versace is like a thrilling imperial detective story
Donatella Verschae
Donatella Versace was still a girl when Gianni Versace chose her as his muse
Donatella Versace was only 11 years old when her older brother Gianni Versace began to instill in her his ideas about an emancipated woman.
At the age of 14, Gianni convinced Donatella to highlight her hair. And by the age of 16, he turned her from brown-haired to platinum blonde.
Then makeup appeared in her life. Donatella got up at 6 am to style her hair and make arrows a la Cleopatra. And Gianni helped her sneak out of the house so that her mother wouldn’t notice.
Donatella is short (162 cm). Her nightmare has always been short legs. Gianni helped fix this by recommending high heels.
Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace (1988)
Donatella Versace was the most stylish student in Florence
Donatella Versace spent her student years at the University of Florence. And there she never forgot the style lessons taught by her brother. Her classmates wore jeans and flip-flops. Donatella walked in high heels, not embarrassed by the cobblestone streets. Even her house slippers had heels.
Meanwhile, Gianni invited his sister to his place in Milan every weekend. And every time he gave her a bunch of outfits.
Donatella and Gianni Versace (1990)
Influence on fashion
Donatella Versace was the first to invite stars to the catwalk to demonstrate new collections and also as spectators. Not a single fashion show was held without famous people, famous photographers, and even Prince Charles attended one of them.
Giovanni created collections that expressed a mixture of luxurious classics and open, aggressive sexuality through deep cutouts, bright colors and large prints.
The younger sister tried to find her own style without losing the traditional Versace features: chic and eroticism. She succeeded: the clothes became less sexy, comfortable and more feminine.
Donatella Versace's profession was predetermined by a family tragedy
At the University of Florence, Donatella Versace studied languages. But she never defended her diploma. Donatella was already finishing it when her mother Franka Versace became ill. Donatella rushed to visit her in her native Reggio, but did not have time. Franca Versace died without saying goodbye to any of her children.
After this, Donatella hated both her thesis and the university. She moved to Milan to live with Gianni to support each other after the loss. So the fates of sister and brother were forever intertwined. Donatella soon realized that, like Gianni, she would devote her life to fashion.
Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace (1990)
Donatella Versace and plastic surgery
Donatella always hated her appearance. And when she started working with Gianni, she became even more complex. Her short legs and large palms were especially striking against the backdrop of chiseled fashion models.
So Donatella was literally obsessed with excess weight. For years she ate exclusively rice and pureed vegetables.
Later, she also began to try to fix her face: it seemed “uncouth” to her.
Plastic surgeries performed by the diva
The owner of the most famous campaign in the whole world became addicted to the procedures back in 2003.
The first changes were noticeable in correcting the shape of the lips and smoothing the surface of the skin. This was followed by changes in the nose area: the diva corrected its shape, reduced its width and tip. This radically changed her appearance. The famous designer did not stop there. Plastic surgery affected the lower part of the face, the cheekbones were raised, and the skin in the lip area was tightened.
In an attempt to stop aging, Donatella corrects the oval of the face, the upper eyelids, and smoothes out facial wrinkles. Despite her beautiful figure, the girl supplements it with silicone implants and removes excess fat.
Donatella Versace and her first husband Paul Beck
Paul Beck was employed by Gianni Versace in a minor job: he helped in the design of accessories. Many wondered why Gianni brought him into the “family” brand Versace, where only Italians worked.
But firstly, the American Paul was very useful in negotiations with buyers from the USA. And secondly, the kind, flexible Paul charmed Gianni’s sister.
True, the designer only pretended to be happy about the wedding of Donatella and Paul, which took place in 1983. In fact, the fashion designer considered this union dubious.
“Why are we trying? They’ll get divorced in a couple of years anyway,” Gianni muttered as his dressmakers worked on Donatella’s wedding dress.
But Donatella Versace and Paul Beck lasted longer. The marriage lasted from 1983 to 2000.
Paul Beck and Donatella Versace (1988)
Career milestones
- 1978 - Giovanni creates his own brand, Gianni Versace. Following the examples of family clans in this area, he involves his older brother Santo in financial affairs, his sister in advertising policy.
- 1989 – Donatella introduced the world to the democratic youth line Versus.
- 1993 – launches a new line for children under the Versace Young logo.
Versace Young Series
- 1997 - Gianni is killed, his sister becomes head of the company. Three months later she releases her first unsuccessful collection.
- 2000 – Jennifer Lopez wears a dress called the Versace Green Dress on the Grammys red carpet. This event creates a sensation, increasing the popularity of the brand and inspiring Google to create a new technology, Google Images.
Versace Green Dress
- 2000 – Palazzo Versace luxury resort opens in Gold Coast, Australia.
- From October 2002 to January 2003, the best clothes of the Versace house were presented at the exhibition of the Victoria and Albert Historical Museum in the capital of England.
- 2004 – the company is close to bankruptcy, but the owner manages to build a new path of development.
- 2009 - She hires Christopher Kane to revive the Versus line, followed by Jonathan Anderson in 2012. The latter will design a separate line, a capsule one. Two years later, Anthony Vaccarello became the label's designer, and thanks to its success, he was appointed creative director of Versus Versace on a permanent basis.
- 2016 – opening of the Palazzo Versace hotel in Dubai.
Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai - September 2022 – show of a new collection dedicated to Giovanni.
The role of Donatella Versace in the rise of Gianni Versace
Johnny Versace never spared time, effort and money on the glamorous “upbringing” of his sister. And over time, the investment paid off. Gianni entrusted Donatella with responsibility for shoes, bags and jewelry in the Versace collections. Plus, she brought bright makeup and bouffant hair to the shows.
Sometimes Donatella acted behind her brother's back. For example, she instructed the dressmakers to shorten their skirts, although Gianni loved long ones. Gianni shouted: “You don’t understand anything! You will ruin me! But as a rule, Donatella was right.
And one day, on the eve of the show, shoes became the subject of dispute between Gianni and Donatella. The brother and sister agreed to show half the models with heels and the other half with flats. But an hour before the fashion show, Dnatella secretly replaced all the ballet flats with stiletto heels. Gianni went into such a rage that Paul Beck called “Versace’s verbal storm.”
Young Donatella Versace and Gianni Versace at work
Wax figure
In the foreign press, Donatella is sometimes compared to a wax figure, with which she is related by the amazing smoothness and shine of her facial skin. As noted by the plastic surgeon who commented on Versace's appearance, this is probably due to Botox injections or laser rejuvenation, which gives the effect of an unnatural glow to the skin.
Botox, fillers and resurfacing make facial skin unnaturally radiant
Children of Donatella Versace: daughter Allegra and son Daniel
On Christmas Day 1986, Donatella Versace announced her pregnancy to her husband and brother.
But there was no talk of maternity leave. Throughout her pregnancy, Donatella worked and did not give up her favorite Marlboros and heels.
Gianni was delighted with his sister's interesting position. But he didn’t hide it: her plump figure and swelling terrified him.
On June 30, 1986, Donatella gave birth to a girl by caesarean section in a Milan private clinic. Gianni proudly participated in choosing the name for his niece: Allegra Donata Beck.
In 1990, Donatella gave birth to a son. The boy was named Daniel.
Donatella Versace with her daughter and son
Donatella Versace and celebrities
When the Italian brand Versace triumphantly broke through in the United States, the brand needed the support of the stars. It was Donatella's job to seduce celebrities. And in this she had no equal. Her motto was: “Darling, accept this as a gift.”
“I still remember being taken to a Versace boutique and told I could have whatever I wanted,” recalls Victoria Beckham.
And when Madonna agreed to come to the Versace show, Donatella personally met her at the airport and took her to Villa Fontanelle, which she prudently decorated with the singer’s favorite flowers.
When Donatella got Mickey Rourke to show at the show, she entertained him in the bar until three in the morning: so that the scandalous actor could not get drunk and cause trouble.
In general, thanks to Donatella, Versace shows turned into a celebrity club. “But I never fawned over the stars to make them clients. We were just friends,” Donatella clarifies. And this is true: for example, Donatella has been friends with Jennifer Lopez for 20 years.
Elton John and Donatella Versace (1993)
Donatella Versace and cocaine
A mystical, glamorous and luxurious atmosphere has historically developed around the Versace brand. And at some point, Donatella’s life also began to resemble a pompous Italian opera.
The image of the goddess cost fabulous money. Donatella's Milan home resembled a palace of pleasures: 21 rooms, a snakeskin-lined bathroom, gilding everywhere. She flew only privately and stayed in the most luxurious suites. In moments of melancholy, Donatella consoled herself by buying Harry Winston and Cartier diamonds. And at the end of each season, I threw out my entire wardrobe and bought clothes from new collections.
Donatella had fun like a crazy empress: with black caviar, rivers of champagne and in the most elite clubs.
And then in 1994, Elton John approached Gianni Versace, with whom they had been friends for many years. The singer, who himself had previously had an affair with drugs, alarmedly told Gianni that his sister was on cocaine.
It was the honest truth. By that time, Donatella was taking the powder every day. She even had a special container case into which she could pour the next dose. And it came with a tiny golden spoon with an exquisitely cast Medusa on the handle.
Donatella Versace in a Vanity Fair photo shoot (1996)
Donatella's need for doping confused and upset Gianni. But he was even more upset when his sister refused to undergo treatment for drug addiction.
Donatella did not pass the test of fame, but continued to bask in it like a rock star - while high.
In 1997, she even set a record for her troubled life. Donatella threw a private Prince concert at her mansion for a select few. Guests were transported by private jet. Upon arrival, makeup artists and hairdressers were waiting for everyone. Afterwards - a two-hour Prince show. Everyone dispersed only at dawn.
Donatella was able to give up cocaine only much later - in 2007. The same Elton John nevertheless convinced her to undergo treatment.
Joker smile
The “Joker smile” effect with huge nasolabial folds and overhanging cheeks is often characteristic of women with a distal bite, in which the upper jaw protrudes forward. As you can tell from Donatella's appearance, she has worked on her smile over the years, getting veneers that have further enhanced the effect.
In combination with possible fillers in the cheeks and gel in the lips, the effect of a not entirely aesthetic smile is created. In the past, her lips were quite plump, but the fact that she enlarges them regularly is beyond any doubt. This is revealed by the shape, volume, and contour.
Enlarged lips in combination with contouring, dentistry and genetic features of the facial structure give the effect of a “Joker smile”
The offensive will of Gianni Versace
Donatella's lifestyle often became the cause of quarrels with her brother. Gianni was so angry that he rewrote his will to his beloved niece Allegra. The notary was shocked when he saw that the Versace empire was bequeathed to the child.
Donatella knew nothing about this. After her brother's death, the will will break her heart.
Gianni, Donatella and Allegra Versace (March 1997)
Correcting eyelids using blepharoplasty did not have long-lasting results in the appearance of a couturier
Currently, beauty injections help Donatella maintain facial tone. The interventions are repeated every two months. Otherwise the skin floats down. The face has a flabby appearance, without facial expressions and is very similar to a mask.
The couturier loves bare shoulders, arms and back, deep necklines - the look should be sexy - even if there is a demonstration of sagging skin. The media write that Donatella has no sense of proportion in her own desire for plastic surgery. Donatella's surgical interventions were no different from those done by other famous people.
But now she is the least fortunate of all. Her body rejected the drugs, and the result was directly proportional to her expectations. Currently, Donatella looks a couple of decades older than her own age.
Demi Moore's sinister prophecies for Donatella Versace
An Atelier Versace show was scheduled for July 6, 1997 at the Ritz in Paris. A strange thing happened the night before the show. Demi Moore flew to the show. She and Donatella were having dinner and the actress offered to tell their fortunes using Tarot.
“I see death,” Moore whispered ominously, spreading out her cards. Then Donatella just laughed at the prophecy.
Collections
The designer's signature shows are the following:
- Versace spring-summer 2000. The first to present a defiant jungle dress (Versace Green Dress) was top model Amber Valletta.
In addition to the iconic outfit, there were other clothes with tropical prints, suits made of snow-white satin fabric, and iridescent mini swimsuits. Versace spring-summer 2000 - Versace Couture fall-winter 2002/03. According to Donatella, the main muse that inspired the creation of this line was Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of King Louis XV.
Therefore, corsets, ancient lace from Florence and Venice, and brocade with patterns from paintings from the 18th century deserve special attention. Versace Couture fall-winter 2002/03 - Atelier Versace Couture spring-summer 2016. At this demonstration, young stars presented homage images.
Atelier Versace Couture spring-summer - Versace spring-summer 2022. Items from the iconic collections from 1991-95 of Gianni Versace, whose death has passed 20 years, were shown here.
His muses, top models in golden chainmail dresses, came out in the finale. Versace spring-summer 2018 - Versace spring-summer 2022. Jennifer Lopez closed the fashion show in a new seductive version of the jungle dress (Versace Green Dress).
This time the designer decided to use strict office looks of the 90s style with a combination of tie-dye, tropical and snake prints. Versace spring-summer 2020
