Donatella Versace
Chief brand ambassador of Versace; creative director from 1997 to 2025
Donatella Versace is an Italian designer who led Versace as creative director for 28 years, from 1997 until 2025, after the death of her brother and founder Gianni Versace. In 2025 she handed over creative leadership and became the house's chief brand ambassador, as Versace moved to the Prada Group.
| Role | Chief brand ambassador of Versace |
|---|---|
| Creative director | 1997 to 2025 |
| Organisation | Versace (Prada Group since December 2025) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 1955 |
| Known for | Leading Versace after 1997 |
Who is Donatella Versace?
Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer born in Reggio Calabria in 1955. She was creative director of Versace from 1997 to 2025 and has served as the brand's chief brand ambassador since stepping back from creative duties in 2025. She remains one of the most recognisable figures in Italian fashion.
Career
Donatella worked closely with her brother Gianni Versace from the early years of the house, overseeing areas including accessories, image and the diffusion line Versus, and was vice president of the company. Following Gianni Versace's death in 1997 she took over creative direction, keeping the brand's signature glamour, prints and sensual tailoring while updating them for new generations.
In 2018 Versace was acquired by the American group Michael Kors Holdings, which renamed itself Capri Holdings. In March 2025 Donatella announced that she would hand creative leadership to Dario Vitale, formerly of Miu Miu, while staying on as chief brand ambassador. The following month the Prada Group agreed to buy Versace for 1.25 billion euros, a deal completed in December 2025. Vitale left after the acquisition closed, and in February 2026 the Prada Group named Pieter Mulier chief creative officer of Versace from 1 July 2026, reporting to executive chairman Lorenzo Bertelli.
- 1997 to 2025: creative director of Versace
- 2018: Versace acquired by Capri Holdings
- 2025: becomes chief brand ambassador; Prada Group agrees to acquire Versace
- December 2025: Prada Group completes the acquisition
Influence on the fashion business
Donatella is widely credited, together with Gianni, with helping to create the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s by casting famous models on the runway. Under her leadership Versace expanded into a global lifestyle brand covering fashion, accessories, fragrance and home, with strong red carpet and celebrity visibility that became a core part of its marketing.
Her long tenure also illustrates the challenges family founded houses face in securing scale and investment. Versace's moves from family ownership to Capri Holdings and then to the Prada Group mirror the wider consolidation of the luxury sector.
Why it matters
Donatella Versace kept one of Italy's most distinctive fashion houses creatively relevant for almost three decades after a sudden succession. Her transition to an ambassador role, alongside a new owner and new creative leadership, offers an instructive example of how heritage brands manage generational change in design and governance.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Donatella Versace?
Donatella Versace is an Italian designer who was creative director of Versace from 1997 to 2025, after the death of founder Gianni Versace. Since 2025 she has been the brand's chief brand ambassador.
Who is the creative director of Versace now?
Pieter Mulier became chief creative officer of Versace on 1 July 2026, appointed by the Prada Group, which completed its acquisition of Versace in December 2025. Donatella Versace handed over creative leadership in 2025 to Dario Vitale, who left after the acquisition.