VERSACE EXPLORES CLANS AND ARISTROCRACY
Donatella Versace is seeking new kinships in her latest collection that brings together classic Versace motifs with a new set of codes. Colours were loud and prints clashed in a metaphor for clans coming together as Versace combined punk references, contemporary youth culture and Versace trademarks to create racy. a new aristocracy. “Aristocracy is not something you are born from to, but comes from carrying yourself in a certain way,” Versace said before the show. “It is in being above it all, and in being an example to other women."
Bustiers defined the silhouette: overtop wild print dresses with high-heeled booties, or over a Versace T-shirt worn with, say, a tartan mini and argyle socks, or better yet, a full, long skirt m decorated with beaded fringe.
The designer appealed to youth subcultures with the branded T-shirts, fringeed athletic scarves, hooded mini-dresses with beaded fringe and fashion house’s new Chain Reaction sneakers Slinky black and red evening dresses that bared shoulders and legs had incorporated scarves to cover the heads. And for Versace, dresses aren’t just for evening. She pairs hers with long sunglasses, which she said was the sign of a true aristocrat.
Asked before the show to name the queens of today: “I am,” she joked, then said, “There are many queens today.” One came quickly to mind: Jennifer Lawrence, who neatly deflected social media criticism for going outdoors in the cold for a photograph in a revealing Versace evening dress. “She is a real Versace woman." the designer said.