fashionologie

Would Allegra Beck Sell Her Stake to Help Restore Versace?

fashionologie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:51:57 -0800

>> In 2004, Wall Street Journal's Deborah Ball reports in her just-published book House of Versace, Donatella Versace told her daughter Allegra Versace Beck she has until she is 24 to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. If Allegra didn't succeed by then, she had to come work for Versace. Allegra, who owns a majority stake in the company, turns 24 in June of this year.

The declaration could have changed by now - although in media interviews, Donatella still expresses hope that Allegra will join the company at some point. Allegra lives in New York and attends Versace board meetings; she was involved in replacing Versace's chief executive last May with current chief executive Gian Giacomo Ferraris. And at the beginning of 2009, she began spending more time in Milan and now has a desk in Donatella's atelier.

But not so fast »

Deborah Ball's House of Versace Recounts Tales of Drug Addiction, Heavy Spending, and Even a Little Megalomania

fashionologie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:54:24 -0800

>> Yesterday, Deborah Ball, Milan correspondent for the Wall Street Journal since 1997, published House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival, after conducting 220 interviews with the likes of Donatella Versace, her brother Santo Versace, Gianni Versace's partner Antonio D'Amico, Anna Wintour, Joe McKenna, Brana Wolf, and Francois Nars. In fact, the only person to decline Ball an interview was Allegra Beck Versace, who has never had a predilection for talking to press. House of Versace is the first book to chronicle the ups and downs of the Versace family in English, and it's also the first book written for which the Versaces granted help.

Ball touches on Donatella's long battle with drug addiction, the Versaces' heavy spending habits, Allegra's anorexia, why Gianni left his 50 percent stake in the company to Allegra, and more.

Among the tidbits we learned while perusing the book's contents »

Versace Aims for Profitability in 2011 with Job Cuts, Lower-Priced Line

fashionologie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:58:48 -0800

>> Donatella Versace presented her latest Atelier Versace collection during Paris couture this week, all red carpet-ready gowns adorned with "chunks of Swarovski crystal, swags of fine silvery chains, and hologram discs to give a Paco Rabanne-esque edge," as Hamish Bowles reported. But the behind-the-scenes situation at the company isn't quite as glamorous.

Versace just announced that it will eliminate 350 of its 1,360 jobs, representing 26 percent of its workforce, worldwide starting in March and ending in June - part of a plan to return to profitability in 2011.

Donatella is also launching a new collection - Versace Collection - under her creative direction, which will be priced 30 to 40 percent below the house's signature collection. The Fall entree abides by the Versace codes of color, sexiness, prints, and glamour and includes 230 pieces, among them egg-shaped coats in oatmeal, cocktail dresses with lace and tulle insets, and degrade fitted jackets.

fashionologie — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:04:40 -0800

>> Versace the Subject of Upcoming "Untold Story" Book by Wall Street Journal Reporter -In 2006, Alicia Drake's The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris took the fashion world by storm; in 2007, it was Dana Thomas's Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. Since, there's been a dearth of solid industry reading, but 2010 may end the drought. The Wall Street Journal's Deborah Ball has House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival coming out Feb. 2, marking the first book in English written about the Versace clan. It includes interviews with Gianni Versace's friends, lovers, Naomi Campbell, and Anna Wintour. [Chic Report]

Should Donatella Move On from Versace?

fashionologie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:11 -0800

>> After Dana Thomas's best-selling book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster came out in August 2007, she wasn't invited to Louis Vuitton's show the following October - Vuitton chief executive Yves Carcelle was unhappy with how she had portrayed LVMH head Bernard Arnault. Given the article she just wrote for Newsweek, "The Tragic Decline of the House of Versace," she may be uninvited from Versace's show next.

Just last week, Donatella expressed that she expected Versace to weather the economy, despite having to lay off a quarter of its workforce. Thomas doesn't seem as convinced, suggesting that perhaps it's time for Versace to move past its family-centric setup:

"Many in the fashion industry believe it's time for the brand to continue without Versace family involvement - and some suggest that the family is starting to accept this idea too. Last year, Santo [Versace, Donatella's brother and former CEO of the company] was elected to the Italian Parliament. Allegra [Beck Versace, Donatella's daughter and 50 percent company heir] has been attending Brown University and has said her dream is to become an actress. And will Donatella remain at the helm? 'Maybe,' says [an anonymous] former Versace executive. 'Then again, maybe not.' Which, after a decade of turmoil, may be the best thing for the company after all."

Gianni Versace wanted the brand out of the family hands »

Donatella: I Handled Versace While Under Influence of Cocaine, Will Weather Economy, Too

fashionologie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:52:41 -0800

>> Versace is definitely feeling the economic crunch, completely pulling out of Japan, where it's had a presence since 1981, and announcing impending layoffs of over a quarter of its current workforce. But Donatella Versace aims to keep up appearances - she sponsored the Whitney Museum Art Gala in New York two weeks ago, jetted off days later to Rio de Janeiro for a Fashion Rocks event, and has just named Georgia May Jagger, Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger's 17-year-old daughter, the face of her Spring 2010 campaign, as photographed by Mario Testino. She also refuses to take off her stilettos, except for at the gym.

The New York Times's Eric Wilson caught up with her when she was in New York, staying under the name "Mrs. Montez" in a suite at the Waldorf Towers. When she first took over Versace, she says, “it was not easy to believe in myself or the future. Everyone was looking at me like a savior, and I had to have this image of this powerful strong woman, which I am not.”

"You have to face the truth" »

fashionologie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:24:04 -0700

>> Versace Layoffs Coming to Help House Gain Back Profitability -Ever since former Versace CEO Giancarlo di Risio left the brand in June after clashing repeatedly with Donatella Versace, repositioning has been the order. Versace announced earlier this month that it would close all stores in Japan, and now comes news that the brand will cut 350 jobs worldwide by the middle of next year after forecasting a loss in 2009 and a flat 2010. The layoffs aim to help the house ensure profitability by 2011. [WWD]

Donatella Brings that Versace Glamour to the Whitney Museum Art Gala

fashionologie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:35:06 -0700

>> For the second year running, the Whitney Art Musem Gala was Donatella Versace's party. Editors - Olivier Zahm, Lauren Santo Domingo, Glenda Bailey - commingled with designers - Peter Som, Moises de la Renta, Ruffian's Claude Morais and Brian Wolk - and a smattering of models like Chanel Iman and Hana Soukupova. Christopher Kane's Versus designs even made an appearance - the Fall 2009 crystal shoes were on Byrdie Bell's feet, and Taylor Momsen - who seems to be close with the Versaces, particularly Allegra, changed into a black Spring 2010 Versus frock for the Studio Party post-Gala Dinner.

Donatella was fashionably late to the party - two hours in, she was nowhere to be found; perhaps she was still upstairs tending to VIPs - as was Lindsay Lohan, who swept in, all blonde hair and gold dress - earning comparisons to Donatella's trademark look. Lohan said she came "for Donatella" before beelining to Brian Atwood for a chat. Keeping with the "art chic" theme, the walls of one whole room at the party downstairs was covered in paper for guests to scribble on.

fashionologie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:57:38 -0700

>> Armani, Versace Supposedly Had Bidding War Over Megan Fox - When Victoria Beckham declined to renew her Emporio Armani underwear ad contract earlier this month, rumors went around that Megan Fox was signed to replace her. But now, Derek Blasberg reports: "Word on the casting couch is that [Fox] is taking over the [Armani] fragrance campaign for Beyonce, AND the fashion campaign also. This, after a Fox bidding war with none other than Versace." [Derek Blasberg Twitter, Derek Blasberg Twitter]

Donatella Versace Relaunching Versus Ready-to-Wear In Time for Milan Fashion Week

fashionologie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:39:57 -0700

>> Versus, the young Versace line originally launched in 1989 and designed by Donatella Versace under her brother Gianni's supervision before it was discontinued in 2005, is being revived - no surprises here, considering that Donatella said in March of the line: "It was the first collection that my brother Gianni let me work on, on my own, so it's very precious to me."

She asked Christopher Kane to produce a capsule collection of crystal-studded Versus shoes and bags, which was rolled out in February, and for Spring 2010, the brand is on track for a full-fledged "dynamic presentation" of Versus ready-to-wear during Milan Fashion Week, according to a spokeswoman.

The line, which targets "Young Hollywood," or women between 20 and 30, is currently being sold in the new Versus showroom in Milan. “It’s very rock ’n’ roll and sexy,” Donatella Versace told WWD. “The collection reflects Versus’ DNA and is aimed at young people who want to dress with their own style but like to evolve and break new ground.”