Who Is Donatella Versace? 28 Years at Versace and Her Role Now

Donatella Versace is the younger sister of founder Gianni Versace and the designer who led the Milan house’s studio for nearly 28 years, from his death in 1997 until 2025. Since 1 April 2025 she has been Versace’s chief brand ambassador. Her draped, body-conscious line still runs through our Versace edit, from evening gowns to the house codes Gianni built, told in our profile of Gianni Versace.

Key facts

• Born in 1955, the younger sister of Gianni Versace.
• Worked alongside Gianni from the late 1970s, soon after the house opened in Milan in 1978.
• Designed the Versus line in the 1980s.
• Became creative director after Gianni’s death in July 1997.
• Staged the Spring Summer 2018 tribute collection to her brother.
• Step-down announced on 13 March 2025; chief brand ambassador from 1 April 2025.

Who is Donatella Versace?

Donatella Versace was born in 1955, the younger sister of Gianni. The two grew up in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, where their mother Francesca ran a dressmaking workshop. Gianni founded his label in Milan in 1978 and showed his first womenswear collection there that year. Donatella was at his side from the late 1970s.

Her own line was Versus, which she designed in the 1980s while Gianni led the main collection. It gave her a design role inside the house long before she ran it. When Gianni sent Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington down his Autumn Winter 1991 runway, Donatella was already part of the studio.

How did Donatella take over Versace in 1997?

Gianni Versace died on 15 July 1997 in Miami Beach, aged 50. Donatella became creative director after his death and took charge of the design studio. She would hold that role for nearly 28 years, longer than her brother had run the label himself.

The early seasons were about continuity. She kept the Medusa head, which Gianni had adopted as the trademark around 1993, and the Greca key border that frames it. She also kept the cut: close to the body, built for evening, with gold used as a colour of its own. Those codes are still the backbone of the current collection, as our guide to the Medusa logo explains.

What did Donatella Versace change?

Her clearest contribution is the sense of occasion. In February 2000 Jennifer Lopez wore a green silk chiffon dress from Versace Spring Summer 2000 to the 42nd Grammy Awards. Google’s Eric Schmidt later wrote that it was the most popular search query the company had seen, and that it led to Google Image Search. The full story is in our piece on the Jennifer Lopez Versace jungle dress.

Donatella returned to that moment on 20 September 2019. Lopez closed the Spring Summer 2020 show in Milan in a reworked sleeveless version of the dress, after a screen showed a Google voice search for it. The finale showed how well she understood the house as a piece of popular culture.

On the rail, her influence reads as draped jersey, plunging necklines and hardware. The Safety Pin earrings and belts we stock nod to the black safety pin dress Elizabeth Hurley wore in London in May 1994, and they sit beside the Medusa ’95 line of bags and jewellery.

What was the Versace Spring Summer 2018 tribute?

For Spring Summer 2018, Donatella dedicated a collection to her brother. She revived Barocco, the gold baroque scroll print Gianni had created for his 1991 runway, and returned to the prints of his archive.

The finale is the one people still share. In Gianni’s Autumn Winter 1991 show, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington had lip-synced to George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90”. Donatella brought the same women back, joined by Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni and Helena Christensen. You can see the Barocco legacy in our Versace prints guide, and in the gold and white silk twill pieces in the current edit.

What is Donatella Versace’s role now?

On 13 March 2025 Versace announced that Donatella would step down as creative director. From 1 April 2025 she became chief brand ambassador. Dario Vitale, previously design and image director at Miu Miu, was named chief creative officer that March. He showed one collection, Spring Summer 2026, in September 2025 and left on 12 December 2025.

Ownership moved too. The Prada Group completed its purchase of Versace from Capri Holdings on 2 December 2025, and Lorenzo Bertelli is executive chairman. Pieter Mulier, formerly creative director of Alaïa, became chief creative officer on 1 July 2026. His first collection is expected in early 2027. Our explainer on who owns Versace sets out the full timeline.

What changed for shoppers is subtle so far. The pieces on sale today are still the Donatella vocabulary: Medusa hardware, Greca borders and gowns cut for a red carpet. Every piece in our edit is 100% authentic, verified by Coveti, and designed in Milan.

Shop the edit

1. Embellished Stretch Crêpe Jersey Draped Gown in Black, USD 23,130. The Donatella silhouette in one piece; wear it with bare shoulders and nothing else.
2. Viscose Liquid Jersey Draped Gown in Black, USD 5,190. A softer drape that travels well to a late dinner.
3. Metal Mesh Slip Mini Dress in Silver, USD 6,300. Pure 1990s shine; keep the shoes simple.
4. Printed Silk Twill Midi Dress in White and Gold, USD 4,230. White and gold print in a fluid midi length, easy with flat sandals.
5. Safety Pin Earrings in Light Gold, USD 610. A small piece of 1994 for everyday tailoring.
6. Medusa ’95 Croc-Effect Top-Handle in Black and Gold, USD 3,840. A structured bag with the Medusa clasp at the front.
7. Gianni Nappa Pumps 90 mm in Black, USD 1,930. Named for her brother and cut for long evenings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Donatella Versace still at Versace?

Yes. Donatella Versace stepped down as creative director in 2025, a change announced on 13 March 2025. From 1 April 2025 she became the house’s chief brand ambassador. Design is now led by chief creative officer Pieter Mulier, who joined on 1 July 2026 with a first collection expected in early 2027.

How long was Donatella Versace creative director?

Donatella Versace led the Versace design studio for nearly 28 years. She became creative director after her brother Gianni died in July 1997 and stayed in the role until 2025, when the house announced she would step down. She then became chief brand ambassador from 1 April 2025.

What is the relationship between Donatella and Gianni Versace?

Donatella is Gianni Versace’s younger sister. She was born in 1955 and worked alongside him from the late 1970s, soon after he founded the house in Milan in 1978. She designed the Versus line in the 1980s and took over as creative director after his death in 1997.

What was Versus Versace?

Versus was the younger Versace line that Donatella Versace designed in the 1980s, while her brother Gianni led the main collection. It gave her a design role of her own inside the Milan house more than a decade before she became creative director of Versace in 1997.

Who replaced Donatella Versace?

Dario Vitale, formerly of Miu Miu, was named chief creative officer in March 2025. He showed one collection, Spring Summer 2026, and left on 12 December 2025. Pieter Mulier, previously creative director of Alaïa, was named on 5 February 2026 and took up the role on 1 July 2026.