12 Things You Didn’t Know About Versace

Versace is surely one of the most famous fashion brands in the world. Known for its colorful dresses and luxurious classicism, this brand is now iconic. Born in the south of Italy, Gianni Versace managed to create a fashion empire from scratch.

Throughout the years, Gianni Versace has become a celebrity with fans worldwide. If you’re one of them, this is the article for you. We created a list of the 12 things you probably didn’t know about Versace.

Versace designed clothes for theatrical performances

Versace did not only create clothes for his shows. He also designed costumes for opera productions and ballets. Gianni often collaborated with French choreographer Maurice Bejart. In fact, ten years after his assassination, Marice decided to honor his memory with a ballet. 

Versace also created clothes for some of his celebrity friends. For instance, he designed some of the costumes used by ​​Elton John in his iconic The One tour.

There are two Versace hotels

Versace was the first fashion house to build a hotel in its name. Gianni and Donatella always loved interior design. In fact, in the 1980s, they decorated their Miami mansion with furniture in the Versace style. 

Seventeen years later, Soheil Abedian visited the House of Versace and came up with the idea of a Versace Hotel. ‘Palazzo Versace’ opened in 2000 and features decorations designed by Versace. There are currently two Versace hotels. One is located in a city south of Brisbane, and the other is in Dubai.

Versace is fur-free

In 2019, Versace declared they would no longer use fur. The decision was made after other fashion brands, such as Gucci, started to embrace cruelty-free policies. 

Versace launched its first perfume 38 years after the brand was founded

“Gianni Versace Donna” was the first perfume created by the company. Versace launched it in 1978, 38 years after the company opened in Milan. Four years later, Versace also started selling accessories, jewelry, and home furnishing. Now Versace makes variety of perfumes both for men and women

He had beaten cancer 

Most people know that Gianni Versace was brutally assassinated in 1997. However, not many are aware of the fact that he also had to fight cancer. He was, in fact, diagnosed with a rare form of inner-ear cancer. The doctors declared him fully cured six months before his assassination. 

Versace created his iconic perfume Blonde to honor his relations with his sister

Donatella and Gianni were always very close. In fact, he created some of his perfumes in honor of his sister. According to the story, when Donatella was 11 years old, Gianni convinced her to dye her hair blond. Years later, in 1995, he decided to launch his perfume, Blonde, inspired by this event. 

Versace was born into fashion

Versace’s siblings were born into fashion. In fact, their mom was a dressmaker. From a very young age, Gianni started to work in her sewing business as an apprentice. The company was quite big and had about a dozen employees. Unlike her brother, Donatella never learned how to sew and to this day, she has no idea how to produce a dress.

Google launched Google Images thanks to Versace

Back in 2000, Donatella decided to send Jennifer Lopez a stunning dress to wear at the Grammy Awards. The audience was so impressed with it that people started to search for it on Google. The users’ behavior was soon taken by Google as a sign to launch its ‘Google Image’ option. 

It was later found out that Donatella had sent the dress as a mistake, as it didn’t perfectly fit Jennifer’s body. Nonetheless, the singer decided to wear it anyway. 

You’re pronouncing it wrong

Most people outside of Italy, tend to pronounce Versace in the wrong way. In an interview with Vogue, Donatella clarified that Versace should be pronounced as ‘Versace-eh’. 

Its logo is inspired by a Greek mythological monster

If you have seen Versace’s logo, you may now be confused. The truth is that the woman’s face is the representation of Medusa, one of the three Gorgons. These were three sisters described as having living snakes instead of their hair. Medusa comes from Greek Mythology and is known for her role in the Odyssey.

He was one of the first to invite celebrities to the runaway

Versace was among the first to invite celebrities to his fashion shows. He figured out this could be a great way to attract more public attention. Some of the people who attended his shows include Madonna, Sting, and Micheal Jackson. 

He left half of his company to his niece 

When Gianni was diagnosed with cancer, he decided it was time to write a will. He left fifty percent of his fashion empire to his niece Allegra, Donatella’s daughter. But, at the time, Allegra was only 11. In 2004, she finally turned 18 and started to join the board of directors for Versace.