Donatella’s Flashback: Versace Spring/Summer 2025

At the Castello Sforzesco, in the heart of Milan, Donatella Versace revived the archives of her iconic Versus Spring 1997 collection.

Flashback to 1997:

In 1989, Versace launched its first diffusion line, Versus. It was created by Gianni Versace as a heartfelt gift to his beloved sister, Donatella. But the line was more than a gesture of love, it was a platform for her to express her individuality. Donatella’s distinctive, light-hearted designs, coupled with affordable price points instantly won the attention of a younger audience, allowing Versus to successfully secure its reputation in fashion history.

Donatella had claimed to be drawn particularly to the 1997 Versus collection, describing it as “a joyful moment.” To her, it represented the spirit of the 90s as a time of “freedom, happiness, and casual fashion choices.” The collection was renowned for its daring approach in clashing patterns and colours in innovative way.

Fast Forward to 2025:

It's undeniable that Donatella is young at heart, and it's often reflected in her youthful designs. Her joyful Spring-Summer 2025 collection is no exception. The harmonious colour combinations and flowing silhouettes make the models look as if they have stepped straight out of a '70s film onto the runway.

The collection strikes an admirable balance between nostalgia and modernity. While Donatella stayed true to the original collections’ bold, glamourous and highly feminine aesthetics, she introduced futuristic elements such as metallics, reflective fabrics and innovative cuts, giving the collection a modern twist. However, some elements remained nearly identical to the 1997 collection, such as the satin poppy prints and squiggly prints.

A refreshing change came in the casting. Unlike the original collection, which strictly featured supermodels like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, the 2025 collection celebrated a more diverse range of models. 

Versace perfected maximalism by layering vibrant sheer blouses and squiggly print cardigans with perfectly tailored blazers and iconic satin slip skirts. The collection's true highlights lie in the details. From the signature perfume bottle clutch bag to the champagne stem heels. However, the true showstopper was the breathtakingly gorgeous gold sequin-effect dress modeled by Anok Yai. The dress was entirely 3D printed and built without seams.

Altogether, the Spring/Summer 2025 collection served as a refreshing and unexpected throwback. As Donatella said, “When there is so much darkness in the world – with this collection, I wanted to bring colour, light, optimism and joy – we have never needed it more!”