fashionologie

Versace's Moody Fall 2012 Ad Campaign

Christina Perez — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:05:22 PDT

Versace kicks off Fall 2012 campaign season early with a moody black-and-white spread photographed by famed fashion image-makers Mert & Marcus. Starring Dutch newbie Elza Luijendijk - her debut season was just this past Fall 2012 - the five-page outing was styled by Joe McKenna and David Bradshaw, and also features male models Philipp Schmidt, Dmitriy Tanner, and Kaccey Carrig. "I'm really thrilled with our new campaign," Donatella Versace said. "The result is bold, strong, iconic and perfectly conveys the sexy rock vibe of our Fall/Winter collection."

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Versace Puts On the Ritz, Candice Swanepoel Covers Vogue Japan, And Roberto Cavalli's Latest Rant

fashionologie — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:59:04 PDT

>> Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

Versace will show its Fall 2012 couture show at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on July 1, a month before the hotel is scheduled to close for a two-year renovation. The Ritz has a special place in Versace's history - it's where Gianni Versace presented his last collection for the house before he was killed in 1997. "The closing of the Ritz Paris for two years represents the end of an era but also the beginning of a new one," said Donatella Versace. "So to be able to show Atelier Versace there one last time will be a memorable milestone." [Vogue UK]
Roberto Cavalli took to Twitter to air more grievances against Anna Wintour, writing, "I confide you a secret... Anna Wintur das nt come to see my show in Milano ....... Why ?? becouse I dont do publicity in American Vogue ??" Cavalli called Wintour's influence on American fashion "terrible" in an on-camera interview last week. [Daily Front Row]
Teri Agins, author of The End of Fashion, is writing a new book billed as a "behind-the-scenes exposé" that will "focus on the rise of fast fashion and celebrity designers in the multibillion fashion industry." The book doesn't have a title yet, but publishing house Gotham is expected to release it sometime in 2014. [The Cut]
A group of protesters dressed in classically tailored suits assembled outside of the new Abercrombie & Fitch store on London's Saville Row, waving signs that say "Tweed Not Greed" and "Give Three-Piece a Chance." One of the organizers of the protest said he wanted to stop the store from "selling crappy clothes to ghastly people." [Styleite]
Candice Swanepoel shimmers on the May cover of Vogue Japan in a gold-fringed Gucci dress. The issue's biggest cover line reads, appropriately, "Glamour Game." [Fashion Gone Rogue]

Photo: Donatella Versace with models at the Versace Haute Couture Spring 2012 presentation in Paris.

Versus Fall 2012

Christina Perez — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:26:20 PST

>> Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane tapped the rough-and-tumble youths of London's Camden Town for their Fall 2012 Versus collection. "The skinheads, the glitter, the acid tie-dye," Kane described backstage. And sure enough, there was a grittiness to the collection - and it was evident from the moment the first model appeared on the runway clad in a leather-sleeved jacket. Colors were dark and moody - burgundy, violet, and acid yellow - and everything from the skintight pants to the short little dresses was printed in psychedelic graphics or slashed-and-laced with grommets. "She's a rebellious, tough, angry, modern girl," Kane explained.

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Versace Fall 2012

fashionologie — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:39:01 PST

>> Donatella Versace went tough and glam for Fall 2012, offering up a collection filled with Byzantine crosses, chain mail, burnout velvet, studded leather - and plenty of "dark seduction". Silhouettes were short and body-con, fabrics decadent and fiercely embellished, and - adding to the rebellious mood - models wore supersevere mini bangs, à la Rooney Mara.

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The Full Second Versace For H&M Cruise Collection

fashionologie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:04:14 PST

>> After getting a preview last month, a first look at the full set of the second Versace for H&M collaboration - for Cruise 2012 - is out. Unlike the first collection, this set - which launches Jan. 19 - will only be available to buy online on www.hm.com in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway - unfortunately not in the US.

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A Preview of the Second Versace For H&M Collection - For Pre-Spring 2012

fashionologie — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:26:45 PST

>> On the heels of the throwback shimmery, animal-printed Holiday 2011 collection, Versace for H&M is back for another round. Donatella Versace also developed a Pre-Spring 2012 collection for H&M - complete with fruit prints - that will be available exclusively in countries with H&M online sales (currently only Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway) from Jan. 19. As for US citizens - since H&M isn't launching an online shop in the US until Fall 2012 - the best source for nabbing the collection will likely be eBay.

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Versace and H&M Go Big For Collaboration Runway Extravaganza

fashionologie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:45:22 PST

>> In honor of their upcoming Versace For H&M collaboration - in stores and online Nov. 17 - the two brands pulled together three events in one last night at New York's Pier 57. Through a gilded hall of mirrors, designers (Anna Sui, Joseph Altuzarra, Christopher Kane), supermodels (Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen), and other such notables (Uma Thurman, Chloe Moretz, Nicki Minaj, Prince) were swept into a dark room framing a serpentine catwalk, on which Versace favorites like Abbey Lee Kershaw, Natasha Poly, Lindsey Wixson, and Daphne Groeneveld wore black leather headscarves, heavy kohl, and stomped to speaker-pumping music.

Cue the next: After her runway bow, Donatella Versace gestured guests to follow her into a green-lit, disco ball-hung room covered in oversized palm tree wallpaper. Minaj took the mic - dressed in Versace for H&M, of course - and inspired Alexander Wang to sing along in the audience to every song. Much to Donatella's pleasure - and Natasha Poly's, who sat on the shoulders of a friend so she could videotape the set on her phone - Prince was up next on stage. Versace fist-pumped when Prince gave her a shout-out, clapped above her head . . . and that was before his encore of "Purple Rain."

Finally, the last of the three-prong event: crowds that had been lining up before Prince even took the stage were unleashed into the shopping area. As Style.com notes, "Many of the women in the crowd made beelines for the collection's men's clothes."

A video of the show, below.

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Watch the Eccentric Versace For H&M TV Commercial

fashionologie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:11:47 PST

>> A blond Lindsey Wixson and Daphne Groeneveld star in the surrealist, minute-long Versace for H&M TV commercial, directed by Jonas Akerlund. Daphne clones are pumped out on a conveyor belt in one scene; in another, Donatella Versace pulls on ropes attached to the two models like marionettes; and in still another, Versace picks up Groeneveld by thumb and forefinger as she runs up a staircase. The spot ends with Donatella turning around and pronouncing, "My house, my rules, my pleasure." Watch it here, now.

Donatella Versace Sings on the Soundtrack For Tonight's Versace For H&M Show

fashionologie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:08:40 PST

>> Tonight, Donatella Versace is transforming Pier 57 in New York into the "Versace For H&M Hall on the Hudson," for the collaboration's fashion show. Three videos by Johan Renck - one of which in previews had Lindsey Wixson running on an oversized hamster wheel - will debut during the extravaganza, both Nicki Minaj and Prince will give musical performances, and even Versace herself contributed to the show soundtrack. Her vocals - in English - were recorded for one track. “It’s the funniest thing because I can’t sing,” she laughed. “I’m going to say, ‘Nicki and Prince, your time is over. It’s all about me!’” But she's not the only Versace involved in the production - daughter Allegra, who has been taking a more active role in the company, assisted stylist Joe McKenna on fittings.

As for star power at the show, Versace presented Jennifer Lopez with her Glamour Women of the Year All-Star award last night - maybe Lopez will make an appearance. Versace also name-checked Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, and Elizabeth Olsen as rising stars she'd like to work with. “Of course, I love Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj,” she said. “They’re not afraid to dare. It’s been a while since someone went out there and didn’t listen too much to the marketing people. You still have to listen to them but not 100 percent.”

Donatella Versace Thinks Karl Lagerfeld Is a "Genius"; Roberto Cavalli, Not So Much

fashionologie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:05:58 PDT

>> Versace is about to turn a profit for the first time in a decade, according to Donatella Versace: “Our business hasn’t been so good in 10 years." The lovefest between the designer and Christopher Kane is well known, but she has a few choice words for a couple of other prominent designers.

Of Karl Lagerfeld, a friend of many years, she says: “He’s a living genius and he’s fearless." As for Roberto Cavalli, Donatella opines: “I think that to do a collection - how do you say - as an homage to Versace, this is fine. But when you do a lot of collections as an homage to Versace - why? What’s the point?” After that comment, she looks at her publicist: “Was I a beetch?” Then she bursts out laughing.