Donatella Versace takes her final bow as Miu Miu's Dario Vitale takes her place

Versace has today announced that Donatella Versace, its Chief Creative Officer, is transitioning to the role of Chief Brand Ambassador after 27 years at the helm of the brand that her late brother Gianni Versace founded in 1978. Miu Miu's Dario Vitale has been named her successor. 

In her new role as Chief Brand Ambassador, effective 1 April, Donatella Versace will dedicate herself to the support of Versace’s philanthropic and charitable endeavours and will "remain an advocate for the brand globally".

Donatella Versace said: "Championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me. I am thrilled that Dario Vitale will be joining us and excited to see Versace through new eyes... It has been the greatest honour 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. 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."

Donatella Versace

Versace also announced that Dario Vitale has been appointed Chief Creative Officer effective 1 April. John D. Idol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Versace's owner Capri Holdings, commented: "We are excited to announce that Dario Vitale will be joining the House of Versace as its new Chief Creative Officer. He is a strong design leader, and we are confident that his talent and vision will be instrumental to Versace’s future growth."

So who is Dario Vitale? After graduating from Insitiuto Marangoni in 2006, the now 41 year old, went to work at Dsquared2 for a year before joining Bottega Veneta. In 2010, he packed his bags and headed to Miu Miu, where he worked his way up to Design and Image Director. Since rumours began swirling that he was leaving the brand after 15 years, the industry waited to see if Vitale would head to Bottega Veneta, Gucci or Versace.

Dario Vitale

Dario Vitale added: "I am truly honoured to join Versace as the Chief Creative Officer and to be a part of this special and powerful fashion luxury House created by Gianni and Donatella. The House of Versace has a unique heritage that has spanned decades and has shaped the history of fashion. 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."

This news comes after recent speculation that Capri was selling Versace to the Prada Group. Capri acquired Versace from the controlling family seven years ago. As part of the deal, Donatella Versace stayed on under contract as Versace’s Chief Creative Officer. But, with recent speculation that Versace is being sold off to the highest bidder, this move almost confirms it.

In 2023, Tapestry Inc. announced it would acquire rival American fashion conglomerate Capri in a deal valued at £6.6 billion ($8.5 billion). This deal would have married America's two largest luxury houses. Fast forward to 2024: a federal judge blocked the merger following a court order.

As a result, Capri, which owns Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo, hired Barclays Plc to explore options for Versace and Jimmy Choo. Earlier this month, it was reported that Prada is moving closer to a deal to buy Versace for nearly £1.2 billion (€1.5 billion).

Emmanuel Gintzburger, CEO of Versace, commented: " I am confident in the company and where it stands today, as we are well-prepared for the organisation to write this new chapter for the house. Dario Vitale is a rare talent, who deeply respects the essence and values of Versace and clearly understands its growth potential. We are convinced that his experience and vision will bring a new perspective to the brand. I am excited to welcome him in the coming weeks and embark on a new and ambitious journey for Versace."