With SS23 Men’s collection, Donatella Versace rebooted brand codes for Genz Z during Milan Fashion Week.
Versace celebrated its man with its Spring-Summer 2023 collection entitled “Master of His Own Statement.”, bringing a new fresh collection for the new generation Gen Z. Donatella Versace, brand’s creative director, played with colours and patterns clash in a fun and flirtatious way in baroque and pop-inspired designs.
“When I work, I think of Generation Z and the freedom they have in not being afraid to mix contrasting pieces together. Pop-art meets classicism – contrast like this is everything to me, it makes you think and feel.” Donatella Versace.
“What I love about this new generation is that they like to dare. You can see they are curious,” Versace said during a preview at the brand’s slick Milan headquarters.
For Versace, this Spring-Summer 2022 menswear collection featured fluid shapes. Highlights included gold hair, cut-out pants, striped trousers, colourful trench coats, short cardigan sweaters, loose tops, graphic shirts, and sweater vests. Meanwhile, kor key accessories, Versace’s new La Medusa Hobo Repeat bag is a re-edition of the brand’s classic hobo bag and a welcomed blast from the past.
“Re-energized graphic prints in pop-colours feature across shirts and t-shirts, creating new icons from Versace visual signatures. Objects from Versace Home are carried as prized possessions and a further demonstration of the Versace world. Colours across the collection are characteristically bright, with suiting in bi-colour striped and neon, metallic jackets, and orange, blue, and crisp-off-white coming-together for an overall quality of freshness. La Medusa Hobo Repeat, an archival Versace hobo bag presented in a new re-edition, features in an XL size that wraps around the shoulder. Shoes, bags, and accessories include metallic formal shoes, diamond-slashed tote bags, and printed python leather styles.” – from Versace
The collection also mixed oversized silhouettes with body-tight tops, and it featured python print leather as an alternative to exotic skins, and leather-look styles crafted in eco-sustainable latex. They all offered generous forms around freedom while body-tight tops maintained the allure of Versace.
Diamond slashed bottoms, eco-sustainable latex and faux leather were further included to its sustainability aims. While bright styling was continued with the graphic prints emblazoned in pop colors across shirts and T-shirts to set Versace’s new visual signatures.
Whirling green metallic plinths, awning-striped suits and topcoats did not exactly scream Gen Z but they were more freewheeling version of Versace based on pieces rather than outfits: slashed leather pajama pants here, a cobalt blue work wear jacket there.