Donatella Versace Evening Dresses and Gowns

No one can say for certain who Donatella Versace is inspired by because she has never named a specific source of inspiration. Once in an interview, she did say, "I am inspired by everything and anything! This means it could be art, a film, an actor, music or just a person walking down the street." It is also likely that the work of her late brother and Versace founder, Gianni Versace, also influences her designs. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Versace apparel and accessories.

Yes, Donatella Versace is related to Gianni. She is his younger sister. In 1972, at age 25, Gianni Versace moved to Milan to work in fashion. He launched his first collection and label in 1978, with his older brother Santo managing the business concerns. Soon Donatella joined the family venture, where she had a creative role and managed enormously popular ready-to-wear lines such as Versus. Following Versace’s tragic murder in 1997, Donatella took over the role of artistic director and continued to evolve the house codes with a twist of her feminine and feminist perspective. Today, Santo Versace is the chief executive officer of Versace, and Donatella is its chief creative officer. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Versace apparel and accessories.

The design philosophy of Donatella Versace centers on the wearer's experience with the pieces that she produces. Versace believes clothing should make a person feel confident and powerful and set them apart. As a result, she often uses bold prints, vibrant colors, fitted silhouettes, dramatic embellishments and unique textures in her designs. Explore a selection of Versace apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

The style that Donatella Versace is known for is bold and fearless. She often uses eye-catching prints and vibrant colors that attract attention. In addition, she frequently plays with textures, combining unexpected materials to create dynamic ensembles. After the death of her brother Gianni Versace in 1997, Donatella became the creative director of the luxury fashion house of Versace and staged her first haute couture runway show a year later. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Donatella Versace apparel and accessories.

Here are some of Donatella Versace's famous quotes. She once said, “To be blonde means to be caressed by the sun, and to be your own sun.” When describing what fashion meant to her, she answered, “Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream.” Another oft-quoted statement of the Italian designer is: “It’s no good being too easily swayed by people's opinions. You have to believe in yourself.” On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Versace apparel and accessories.

The fashion designer's relationship with her brother, Gianni, and her work at Versace's Italian fashion house made Donatella Versace famous. During the 1990s, she became well-known in the fashion industry for assisting with casting supermodels in Versace's dramatic runway shows. Following her brother's death in 1997, Donatella became the creative director of the fashion house he founded. In 2000, she became a household name when Jennifer Lopez wore a bold green dress, nicknamed the Jungle Dress, designed by Donatella Versace to the Grammy Awards. Find a diverse assortment of Versace apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

Donatella Versace, the muse of her brother Gianni, became head designer at Versus, a diffusion line of the house of Versace, in 1994. In 1998, a year after her brother’s death, Donatella Versace debuted her first collection for couture fashion brand Versace Atelier. She is known for her breathtaking Jungle Dress that A-list celebrity Jennifer Lopez made famous at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Shop a large collection of Versace couture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.