Few people thought that any thing from our wardrobe, before getting on the hanger, had come a long way. Hundreds of people are working on creating a certain color of fabric, millions of dollars are being spent, all this in order for some girl to please herself with a sky-blue sweater or emerald pants. Even those who believe that fashion does not concern them are deeply mistaken. "Great-grandmother" of any, even the cheapest, stuff was originally developed in the studios of famous fashion designers. One such person is Donatella Versace. This is the main person of the fashionable Italian House Versace, founded by her sibling.
Childhood
On May 2, 1955, Donatella Versace was born in the Italian city of Reggio Calabria. The biography of the girl began her story in the family of a dressmaker and a merchant. The baby was the youngest of four children. In addition to Donatella, the family included Tina's older sister (who died of tetanus infection at the age of twelve) and two brothers: Giovanni (Gianni) and Santo. The youngest sister was the favorite of all family members. For Gianni, she always remained a muse, ally and best critic. Already at the age of eleven, Donatella Versace with pleasure wore things that the older brother sewed specifically for her.
Closer to relatives
In the mid-70s, the girl graduated from university and went to Gianni, who had already settled in Florence. Donatella decides to join the business of his older brother (at that time he had already founded his own fashion house) and immersed himself in the study of knitwear and the craftsmanship of cutting and sewing. Santa becomes the company's financial director.
After some time, Versace fashion house acquires a PR director, who becomes Donatella Versace. In her youth, she was also responsible for photo shoots and all kinds of advertising campaigns. Brother's love for his sister knows no bounds. In 1995, Gianni begins to release perfumes dedicated to Donatella. "Blonde" was the name of the perfume, the muse for the creation of which was the youngest of the Versace family clan.
Shortly before this event, the fashionable Italian House begins to develop a new line of youth clothing called Versus. Donatella Versace is entitled to distribute this brand. Gianni did not fail at all, inviting his closest and dearest people to leading posts. Shortly before his death, he said that the three of them, over the course of several decades, were able to build what others take centuries.
The death of the brand founder
In mid-July 1997, near his fashion house, Gianni Versace was shot dead. His death gave rise to many rumors and conjectures. Some believed that this was the work of Donatella and Santo. Others liked the version about mafia showdowns more. One way or another, but the Versace Model House was orphaned. For a while, all other family members were isolated from society and placed in a private resort in the Caribbean. The spring show of the new Versace apparel collection has been canceled.
The funeral of the famous fashion designer was held at the Catholic Cathedral in Milan. The sad service was attended by more than two thousand people. Giorgio Armani, Princess Diana, Karl Lagerfeld, Madonna, Naomi Campbell and many other celebrities came to the last journey of Gianni Versace.
Rich heiress
Gianni was the most important and main figure of his fashion house. After the death of the couturier, most of the company's share went to his niece Allegra, who is the daughter of Donatella. She received about 700 million dollars. The girl was able to enter into rights only after her eighteenth birthday. In addition, Allegra received an uncle's villa on Lake Como and an apartment in the best area of Manhattan.
Donatella Versace became the main figure of the fashion house, although she inherited only 20% of the entire share of the will. Santo's older brother received 10% more than his younger sister.
The Fate of the Fashion House
A few months after the death of her brother, Donatella presented her first collection to the court of critics and spectators. The public accepted the development of the fashion designer more than restrained. However, this in no way stopped the temperamental Italian woman. Along with work on already launched projects, Donatella began to work on finding her own style.
In an interview, she said that ad infinitum to continue what Gianni began, it is impossible. In order to stay on the crest of fashion, it is necessary to look for new directions. The woman made her models less sexually aggressive and more feminine. However, she did not go beyond the originally created style. Eroticism and royal sophistication have long been the main details of the recognizable image of each Versace model.
Star demonstrations
It is noteworthy that Donatella is the first couturier who began to invite as models for his celebrity shows. Thus, she carried out the process of transferring her collections to society. Following Donatella, the success of this operation was repeated by her brother, who is the owner and lead fashion designer of yet another branch of Versace House "Finanziaria Versace".
After some time, thanks to her extensive connections, Donatella showed the whole world the beauty and elegant style of family business collections. She has distributed Versace label all over the world, giving preference to the European and American segments. Donatella initially attracted friends for her shows: Jennifer Lopez, Demi Moore, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Jonath Rhys-Myers. Then they were joined by other stars included in the so-called “A-list”. Gradually, many of the "inhabitants" of Hollywood became the faces of Versace.
Attracting attention
The popularity of Donatella and the entire fashion house grew after a woman created the famous "jungle dress", in which Jennifer Lopez shone at the 2000 Grammy Music Awards.
Currently, Versace Fashion House has gathered under its roof more than forty stylists and fashion designers. About twenty clothing lines are being developed here. Three hundred boutiques and more than three thousand outlets with this name all over the world present “freshly baked” new products to the courts of customers.
Of course, the death of Gianni Versace shook the position of the Fashion House. However, soon through the efforts of Donatella, the image and position were restored. Continuing the traditions laid down by her brother, the fashion designer also invited celebrities to the premieres of her own collections. Sir Elton John, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kate Moss and many others were regular guests of the shows hosted by Donatella Versace. Photos from many premiere demonstrations abound with smiles of Hollywood and European celebrities, among which even Prince Charles flashed.
Personal life
The popularity of the Versace fashion house is growing. Donatella is still surrounded by a crowd of fans and admirers of her talent. The fashion designer has a son Daniel and daughter Allegra. With her husband Paul Beck, a fabulous life together did not work. The couple eventually divorced.
It is worth noting that at present Donatella is fond of plastic surgery. Of course, if the couturier’s appearance changed for the better, no one would even begin to pay attention to this fact. But the figure and face of the once pretty Italian woman has changed dramatically, and not for the better. Donatella Versace before the operation was pretty sweet. Facelifts, Botox injections, silicone implants somewhat disfigured her, making her look like an older Barbie doll. Donatella Versace herself admits the procedures made. Before and after the operation, you can see the woman in the photo (from right to left).
The designer says that she realized too late that she is primarily the mother of two children. The desire to become Barbie killed her femininity gifted by nature.