Donatella enlisted the help of her “Versace family” to put on a spectacular presentation to showcase the Fall/Winter 2022 Versace collection in Milan.
If you ever wanted to discover what’s in Donatella Versace’s personal closet, Versace’s Fall/Winter 2022 runway show is the answer to your question. From the liquid pants to the cinched-in corset dresses that debuted on the catwalk — they all resembled pieces you would see her wearing in real life. Of course, this connection between a creator and their designs is not weird or new, as every artist always leaves an imprint of their sartorial vision in their collections. However, in this lineup, the Versace touch was a palpable energy that jumped off the runway.
For this season, Versace debuted its 2022 Fall-Winter Women’s collection at Milan Fashion Week. The pieces tapped into the archetypal Versace look, from signature tweed to the instantly recognizable bustier at the heart of the collection. Through this centrepiece, Donatella Versace juxtaposed the item as both protective armour and provocateur. This tension was palpable throughout the collection, granting a sense of agency and empowerment to the women who wore it.
The collection was an offering of looks for the modern “It Girl” worn by today’s “It Girls” and got inspired by the house’s designs of the late nineties and early 2000s, where we saw nods to the iconic clubbing era that defined a generation of Versace girls. Moreover, there were replicas of nineties bustiers, latex leggings, slinky and fitted dresses and the unmissable scent of sex appeal.
The show featured a bold red runway, pumping music and an impressive front row, proving this is still THE ticket to have during fashion week.
Besides, oversized tailoring was present too, offering a masculine element to some of the looks, which keep their sexiness with skin-tight tops and low-rise ruched skirts. The legendary cargo pant also had its surreal return, which has not seen the light of day since the 2000s.
The first look to come down was a demur, fluid black pantsuit set. Then, the outfits that followed were more tantalizing – short hemlines and bright pops of fuchsia and cerulean blues. Models wore a mixture of micro skirts and hot pink mini dresses and all the garments hugged its wearer’s figure for a skin-tight appearance.
As regards hair and makeup, the looks were also all about the nineties and seemed to be inspired by the look of Donatella Versace herself. Super straight hair, smudged eyeliner and accentuated cheekbones even had Gigi Hadid transformed into a “Mini Me” Donatella.
“Never shy or retiring, the Versace Woman for Fall/Winter 2022 has a powerful and seductive sense of mystery, shifting in and out of sight. With unapologetic certainty she fully owns her allure and knows exactly when to unleash her power,” read the show notes.
During the fashion show, you could also see fitted bodice, which appeared on cropped puffer jackets and on long-sleeve crop tops. Corset boning details were worked into the middle section of houndstooth print dresses and silky slips. “It model” Gigi Hadid walked down the runway in a fiery red dress that featured the aforementioned sultry detail. According to the show notes, “the bustier can be seen both as forceful protective armor and overtly provocative, giving a sense of agency to the wearer.”
See more of the collection below:
