Questions about the Milan house Gianni Versace founded in 1978, from the 90s supermodels to Donatella and Pieter Mulier, answered from Ayerhs’s reviews of Versace from 2002 to today.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 30 October 2026
On this page: The house and its founder · The designers · The collections · Codes and business · The Ayerhs view
The house and its founder
Who founded Versace, and when?
Gianni Versace, a dressmaker’s son from Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, showed his first collection under his own name in Milan in 1978. His brother Santo ran the business and his sister Donatella became his muse and collaborator. Versace was shot dead outside his Miami Beach home in July 1997, aged 50.
Read on Ayerhs: A tribute to Gianni Versace: Spring 2018 · 50 Greatest Fashion Designers of All Time
What was Gianni Versace known for?
Unapologetic glamour and sex appeal: bold baroque prints, metal mesh, bondage-inspired leather and body-hugging cuts, mixed with classical Greek and Roman references. He also helped create the supermodel era, booking Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington together, and courted rock stars and celebrities long before it was standard.
Read on Ayerhs: 90s Versace: The Best Ever · Iconic 90s Versace ads
The designers
Who designs Versace now?
Pieter Mulier, the Belgian designer who led Alaïa from 2021, became Versace’s chief creative officer on 1 July 2026. He was announced in February 2026, after Dario Vitale left the house following a single collection.
| Designer | Years | Defining idea |
|---|---|---|
| Gianni Versace | 1978–1997 | Baroque glamour and the supermodels |
| Donatella Versace | 1997–2025 | Sex, celebrity and pop |
| Dario Vitale | 2025 | One collection, Spring 2026 |
| Pieter Mulier | 2026– | From July 2026 |
What did Donatella Versace do for Versace?
She took over after Gianni’s murder in 1997 and led design for 28 years, keeping the house’s sex appeal while making it a celebrity and pop-culture brand. Her best-known moments include Jennifer Lopez’s jungle-print dress at the 2000 Grammys, recreated on Lopez for Spring 2020, and the Spring 2018 tribute that reunited the 90s supermodels. She stepped down as creative director in March 2025.
Read on Ayerhs: Donatella Versace – The complete guide · J.Lo’s Jungle: Spring 2020 · Versace Fall 2025: Dear Donatella, Thank You!
Why did Dario Vitale leave Versace so quickly?
Vitale, who came from Miu Miu, was appointed in 2025 and showed one collection, Spring 2026. He left in December 2025, shortly after the Prada Group completed its purchase of Versace and began reorganising the house. Ayerhs saw his collection as caught between reinvention and disconnection from Versace’s identity.
Read on Ayerhs: Versace Spring 2026 by Dario Vitale
The collections
What are the most iconic Versace moments?
- The 90s runways. Supermodels, gold and the peak of Gianni’s power. The best of 90s Versace
- Spring 2018, the tribute. Donatella’s homage to Gianni, closing with five 90s supermodels in gold, including Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. Review
- Spring 2020, J.Lo’s jungle. Jennifer Lopez closing the show in a new version of her 2000 Grammys dress. Review
- Couture Fall 2003. Donatella’s Atelier Versace at its most dramatic. Review
More on Ayerhs: Spring 2002 · Fall 2005 · Spring 2014 · Fall 2021 · Fall 2022
Codes and business
What are Versace’s signature codes?
- The Medusa: the Gorgon’s head from Greek myth, the house logo.
- La Greca: the Greek key border, reworked as a monogram in Fall 2021.
- Baroque prints: gold scrolls, silk shirts and scarves.
- Safety pins: the gold pins holding together the black dress Elizabeth Hurley wore in 1994.
- Metal mesh: Oroton, Gianni’s liquid chainmail.
Read on Ayerhs: A–Z of Donatella Versace · Meet La Greca: Fall 2021
Who owns Versace?
The Prada Group, which completed its purchase of Versace in December 2025. Before that, Versace belonged to Capri Holdings, the owner of Michael Kors, which bought it in 2018. Under Prada, Versace sits alongside Prada and Miu Miu.
Read on Ayerhs: The Rise of Fashion Conglomerates
The Ayerhs view
What comes next for Versace?
Versace needs a designer who understands that its glamour is the point, not a problem to fix. Donatella’s farewell earned a simple thank you from Ayerhs; Vitale’s single season showed how easily the house can lose itself. Mulier, who made Alaïa sharp and sensual again, is a promising match, and his first Versace collection will be the real test.