Donatella Versace's collection for next spring and summer is meant as a tribute to her late brother, Gianni Versace, who was the creative force behind the brand.
"In a few weeks, it will be 20 years that my brother is dead. I wanted to return home, creating an homage to him," Versace told the news agency ANSA. "It is not only me who wants to make an homage, it is also the Millennials, who ask for the iconic printed shirts."
Actor Armie Hammer was among the star guests for the cocktail party-themed runway show, with guests seated at small round tables in the fashion house's Via Gesu' garden courtyard, sipping champagne and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres.
Versace created looks for both men and women, including complementary pinstriped overcoats with Bermudas for him and tight-fitting pin-striped dresses with off-shoulder asymmetrical detailing for her. And she took the pinstripes from day to night, with sexy, sequined versions closing out the show.
Versace reached into the archives and retrieved the brand's iconic Greek border, which trimmed men's shirts, while a more ornate floral version finished dresses. They merged and popped into bold black and white optical illusion prints in a series of evening dress-up looks for both him and her.
Loose fit high-waist jeans in pastel colors worn with matching color Versace emblazoned T-shirts completed the journey back to the 1990s.
Gianni Versace was shot dead outside his Miami home on July 15, 1997, leaving Donatella to take over the creative side of the fashion house.
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KING OF HEARTS
At Dolce&Gabbana, it was a game of "name that Millennial."
The designers again invited a cadre of young influencers from show business and social media to strut their latest collection, 106 for this season, from all corners of the globe.
They included Chinese singer Junkai "Karry" Wang, whose fans gathered outside the Metropol theater waiting for a glimpse; the American comedian Andrew Bachelor; the Mexican actor and singer Diego Boneta; and the French-Polynesian model Tuki Brando, the grandson of Marlon Brando.
Ever the romantics, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana dubbed the collection "King of Hearts," and many of the looks included hashtag-able slogans about love, from Amore Per Sempre (Love Forever) to Amore Sacro (Sacred Love).
The collection ranged from silky lounge wear inspired by pajamas to upscale athletic wear, including baseball shirts and basketball jerseys with the new team DG logo, to the designing duo's tightly tailored suits.
The social media-savvy designers even got in a hashtag on their tote bags in the form of handles.
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