It’s rather difficult visualizing a Versace glamazon quarantining at home in casual loungewear and flip-flops—least of all Donatella Versace. But while her confinement uniform will remain forever a well-kept secret, the energy and chutzpah with which she confronted the pandemic was on full display for resort. Developed remotely with her team, the collection rings as Versace’s battle cry for post-lockdown self-confidence and optimism.
Called Versace Flash, it’s a dual-drop coed collection, tightly edited and ready to hit the stores running in see-now-buy-now mode. The first capsule will be delivered in August, and the second will land in November. After months of lockdown, brands and retailers are hopeful that people will be eager to return to mood-boosting shopping activities.
To whet her fanbase’s appetite, a cool lo-fi video was released during Milan Digital Fashion Week featuring a performance by the British rapper AJ Tracey and the American model Anok Yai, both clad in snake-printed ensembles from the collection. A cameo appearance by Donatella signaled that the pandemic hasn’t reduced her superstar wattage.
Resort was inspired by young musicians’ attitude of rebellion and their unconventional style choices. During a showroom review appointment, members of the design studio praised La Signora’s confident lockdown direction, hosting constant Zoom chats and steering the team towards a daring, instinctual approach—fun, creative, more personal. Joyful colors, energy, and “nothing boring, people don’t want boring clothes right now,” was apparently what she recommended.
Indeed, nothing says “I’d like to go out and have a good time” better than like a loud, strong mix of Versace acid brights, pyrotechnical patchworks of archival prints, and sexy snakeskin patterns. Versace likes a dressed-up vibe: Silhouettes were shapely, short, and structured, with powerful ’80s shoulders; gold rings and peep holes were cut into the fabric, revealing flashes of bare skin on glam, form-fitting black jersey numbers.
The menswear was sportier, with sweats, surfer tees, wide-leg shorts, and tracksuits featuring a bold Medusa Amplified motif mixed with snakeskin patterns. Cropped-wide-pant suits in pastel colors—lavender, mint, baby blue—provided a tongue-in-cheek soft-tailored alternative to formal dressing.
The jerseys and sweaters in the men’s line were crafted from responsibly sourced materials and dyes; in both collections, deadstock fabrics were upcycled and reused. Making do with what was available under the circumstances felt right for the moment. Versace seems to be as committed to propagating sustainability as she is to delivering high-octane glamour.
