Who is versace

Evening gown worn by Elizabeth Hurley, Spring-Summer , Versace, black viscose and acetate with kilt pin embellishments. Gianni Versace — is one of the most colourful and talented designers of the late 20th-century. Versace was born in Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy. His first independent collection was launched in Milan in and subsequently, aided by the talents of his brother Santo and sister Donatella, he forged the vastly successful Versace empire. Versace became internationally renowned for ultra-glamorous creations as well as spectacular theatrical costumes and innovative menswear design.

His sensational advertising campaigns featured supermodels such as Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell. Eclectic and impudent, Versace inspired both respect and outrage. At the time of his death in , Gianni Versace was one of the most famous fashion designers in the world. In less than twenty years he had created an international company that put Italy on the fashion map and forged an unrivalled reputation for luxury and glamour.

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A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. Rachel Askinasi. The Versace family , one of the most powerful families in fashion, according to Harper's Bazaar, has seen a lot of success since the Versace brand's founding in But the family has also seen its share of tragedy.

Versace has been a family-owned company for more than 40 years. The iconic fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot and killed on July 15, , outside his Miami mansion , by the serial killer and crazed fan Andrew Cunanan. He was survived by Donatella and Santo and their children. Gianni was especially close with Donatella's daughter, Allegra. Donatella, Santo, and Allegra together became the sole heirs to the company after Gianni's death, whether they wanted to be in the fashion industry or not.

Here's what we know about the Versace family's journey through fame, tragedy, and resilience. Gianni Versace was born in December in Calabria, Italy, into a family with an entrepreneurial seamstress as its matriarch. Francesca Versace — the mother of Gianni, his sister Donatella, and his brother Santo — had very little money in Calabria but used what she had to start an atelier, Donatella told The New Yorker.

Gianni grew up watching her work and designed his first dress at age 10, according to WWD. In , after he graduated from high school, Gianni moved to Milan to work under various designers, one of whom was Mario Valentino.

Six years later, in , Gianni started his own fashion company, Gianni Versace S. Donatella moved to Milan to be with him, learn from him, and serve as his muse. She began to help with clothing design as well. When it came to fashion shows, Gianni pioneered the concept of filling the front row with celebrities and industry "it" people.

Friends such as Elton John and Madonna always attended his shows The Versace brand became synonymous with tasteful sexy luxury wear.

The gown Gianni designed for Elizabeth Hurley in the s made her the topic of conversation at the time, and her acting career took off after that moment. In , Donatella became the head designer of Versace's Versus line — a sort of experimental line that would challenge fashion norms at the time.

Little by little, Versace became more of a lifestyle brand, selling everything from bedsheets to tableware. The brand was arguably at its peak in the mid '90s. The head of Medusa was also a recurring image on many of his clothing items and accessories. He launched his first couture collection in and added two clothing lines, Versus and Instante, to his business in the '90s. One of his most famous creations was a black dress held together at the sides by gold safety pins; worn by Elizabeth Hurley at a movie premiere in ; the dress helped make the actress a star.

Versace developed strong relationships with a number of stars and supermodels, including Elton John, Madonna and Naomi Campbell. As Anna Wintour told The New York Times , Versace "was the first to realize the value of celebrity in the front row, and the value of the supermodel, and put fashion on an international media platform.

Versace's illustrious career was decorated with numerous awards, including four L'Occhio d'Oros and an American Fashion Oscar in Some of his most imaginative creations could be found in theaters; the designer was often applauded for his costume designs for such ballets as Richard Strauss' Josephlegende in , Gustav Mahler's Lieb und Leid in and Bejart's Chaka Zulu in In , Versace was awarded the Maschera D'Argento prize for his contributions to theater.

He also created stage costumes for such pop performers as John, Madonna and Turner. In addition to clothing, the designer expanded his brand in other directions. He launched his classic Signature fragrance line in and his line of furniture and home goods in When Madson came home later that day, Cunanan appeared to have held him captive; Madson was found dead several days later with gunshot wounds to the head. Within a week, the body of Lee Miglin, a wealthy year-old real-estate developer, was found in his home, horribly bludgeoned and stabbed, with unmistakable signs of torture.

A manhunt for Cunanan ensued. When it was reported that police were tracking him through the car phone in his stolen vehicle, Cunanan, who by now had made his way to New Jersey, allegedly heard the news on the radio. Then Cunanan disappeared. I want you to show me how you make the clothes. By his mid-twenties, Versace was in Milan, the hot new epicenter of fashion, earning six figures a year as a designer. His first collection was shown on March 28, , at the Permanente, a contemporary art museum.

He became the darling of Milan with his provocative clothes, igniting a bitter rivalry with Giorgio Armani. He understood the importance of getting his name and his image out there on a global level. Versace became one of the most famous designers of the era, and is credited with creating the phenomenon of the supermodel. Even more than that, his aesthetic offered a refreshing contrast to the architectural simplicity of his predecessors.

Versace designs were vibrant, sultry, and fun. He also had a knack for discovering—and nurturing—raw talent. And the Versace world was a place that everyone wanted to be. Was that what brought out the murderous rage of Andrew Cunanan—was it the sphere of celebrities and models and beautiful people that orbited Gianni Versace?