Donatella Versace announced Thursday that she is stepping down as chief creative officer of Versace, ending nearly 30 years at the helm of the luxury fashion house. She took over after her brother, Gianni Versace, was killed outside his Miami Beach mansion in 1997 and became the face of the brand despite lacking formal design experience.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to carry on my brother Gianni’s legacy,” she wrote on Instagram. “He was the true genius, but I hope I have some of his spirit and tenacity.” Known for her signature platinum hair and ability to unite top models like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford for iconic runway shows, Versace solidified the brand’s influence in high fashion.
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Emmanuel Gintzburger, CEO of Versace’s parent company Capri Holdings, credited her with shaping the brand’s identity. “The universal values she stands for and her love for uncompromised creativity anchored Versace far beyond a brand or a company,” he said.
Dario Vitale, former design and image director at Miu Miu, has been named as her successor. “It is a privilege to contribute to the future growth of Versace and its global impact,” he said in a statement, thanking Donatella for her trust.
Versace will remain involved as the company’s chief brand ambassador. “I will remain Versace’s most passionate supporter,” she said. “Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart.”
