5 of Versace’s Most Iconic Runway Shows of All Time
A look back at the collections that shattered boundaries and defined culture.
Glamorous. Decadent. Passionate. Ostentatious. Dynastic. Five words that describe both the house of Versace and the family of the same name. For nearly 40 years, the two lived in perfect symbiosis, with the tumult and drama of one world reflecting and building off of the other.
Founded in 1972 by Gianni Versace, the Italian fashion brand is in many ways the paradigmatic Italian fashion label of the late-20th century, perfectly formed for the ever-shifting glitz of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Following Gianni’s untimely death in 1997, operations were taken over by Santo and Donatella Versace, who oversaw the business and creative operations, respectively. As designers from the old guard passed on and enigmatic Antwerp figures faded into the background, Versace’s quintessentially family affair established them as something like the fashion world’s own royal family, with just as much intrigue.
Today, Versace’s reputation precedes itself, buoyed in part by Donatella’s mythological status in the world of fashion. As the house rounds the corner on over 50 years of luxury, we revisit five of Versace’s most iconic shows, from runway presentations that shattered boundaries to standout designs that helped define culture.