The reign of Donatella Versace at the fashion brand is coming to an end.
She took over Versace following the 1997 murder of her brother, Gianni, and is stepping down as the brand’s creative director. She will now become the Chief Brand Ambassador. The news of her transition was announced on Thursday (March 13) via her Instagram.
“Championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me […] It has been the greatest honor of my life to carry on my brother Gianni’s legacy. He was the true genius, but I hope I have some of his spirit and tenacity,” she wrote in a statement.
Over the past 30 years, she’s had an instrumental role in cultivating the brand’s identity. She helped expand the fashion label’s international reach while honoring its classic aesthetic. Dario Vitale will take over as Versace‘s chief creative officer starting April 1.
She noted, “I am thrilled that Dario Vitale will be joining us, and excited to see Versace through new eyes. I want to thank my incredible design team and all the employees at Versace that I have had the privilege of working with for over three decades… In my new role as Chief Brand Ambassador, I will remain Versace’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart.”
WWD first reported that Vitale was leaving his role as Design Director at Miu Miu at the end of January 2025.
In a statement via Versace’s Instagram Stories, he expressed that he’s “truly honored” to join the fashion house. “I want to express my sincere thank you to Donatella for her trust in me, and for her tireless dedication to the extraordinary brand that. Versace is today. It is a privilege to contribute to the future growth of Versace and its global impact through my vision, expertise, and dedication.”
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