Runway Report: Versace Spring/Summer 2012

Grommets, Studs, Seashell Motifs...It's Versace 1992 all over again...And I LOVE IT!

Versace Spring 2012

Last week, Donatella Versace showed her latest Spring 2012 Collection for the House of Versace in the gorgeous garden at the Via Gesù show space. The collection was very "Retro Versace". Like I had seen it before somewhere...

It's All About 1992: Versace Couture 1992 above on Naomi, Stephanie and Yasmeen--and on Lady Gaga

I had. The Versace Spring 2012 Collection had many motifs and style elements from that much-Lady Gaga loved Versace Couture 1992 time period (she's been spotted wearing A LOT from those collections lately). The grommets, the silver and gold studs, the heavily cluttered sequins, the seashell prints and motifs...

Seashell Retro: Versace Spring/Summer 1992

Donatella went back to the Versace Archives (as well she should, maybe inspired by Miss Gaga) and really referenced those years in particular for this collection. And what a surprise, they looked "fresh and new", especially to those "kids" who were probably 3 when those collections came out! But I remember darlings--I could never forget Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Karen Mulder and Yasmeen Ghauri in those seashell printed swimsuits and those leather and gold studded gowns!!!

Versace Spring 2012

But back to the present: Versace Spring 2012 showed lots of light "candy sorbet" colors--the light blues, the lemon yellows, the aqua-greens. Lots of luscious draped and shirred silk jersey and silk chiffon added to the "prettiness".

Versace Spring 2012

And yes, those 1992'esque black gold studded skirts and tops and Seashell-motif sequined applique. Donatella also played with some asymmetry, especially with chiffon "overlay" that would "half" cover a simple and elegant sheath dress or a skirt.

Versace Spring 2012

Gowns were seductive, sexy and oh-so-Versace Red Carpet. Also in those light candy-sorbet colors. The grommeting and studded sequin detail was followed through to the final runway-stomping gowns. Now speaking of Runway Stomping...There was a "Model Down":


Poor Lindsey Wixson (American, famous for her "bee-stung" lips) came crashing down almost at the end of the Versace Spring 2012 show. Lindsey happens to be one of Donatella's faves--if not her "Muse", but the 17 year old (A Muse at 17??) came tumbling down as she tried to maneuver those towering 8" lucite stilletto wedge platforms.

She did get back up and instead of running as fast as she could out of the runway, she continued her walk with "Victory" thumbs-up hand signs. Nice Recovery Girl!!!!

If you want to see the stumble--and the Entire Versace Spring 2012 Collection Runway Video, Click Below:

Donatella Versace on The View's Fashion Friday!!

La Diva Donatella

This morning on ABC's "The View" (I'm sick with a BAD head cold so I was at home watching!), I tuned in and guess who appeared before my eyes: La Diva Donatella!

It was "Fashion Friday" (the show is actually taped on Wednesdays, I hear), a segment where every Fridays The View's fabulous ladies "introduce" a Fashion Designer to America, and for today's segment it was none other than Miss Donatella Versace. She looked bellisima in a conservative (for her!) black sheath dress and sky-high nude stiletto pumps.

She showed four of her favorite looks from her Fall 2010 Collection:

This royal blue and black wool coat with leather accents, leather skinny pants and patent leather purse...

This orange wool and fur mini A-line coat-dress...

This turquoise silk georgette and mirror-leather detailed gown...

Donatella and the House of Versace PR Office pulled out all the stops for this brief 5 minute segment: She did not just get four models from a local NYC agency, she had four of the TOP TOP Models of the moment, all done perfectly in runway-ready make-up and perfectly center-parted straightened hair. You KNOW that all cost a pretty penny! And Donatella paid for all of it for sure. One of the models at "The View" was in fact 16 year old Wichita Kansas-native Lindsey Wixson, who is Donatella's current fave and a MAJAH model of the Moment. Lindsey wore this:

Silver chain-and-leather strapless mini-dress

All in all, Donatella was very charming and quite funny, especially when "The View's" co-host Sherri Shepherd asked her what she though of Maya Rudolph's HILARIOUS Homage to her on Saturday Night Live...Donatella revealed that she once called Maya and, "I gave her some suggestions on how to do me better. Because I told her, I don't drink. Take off that jewelry because it is too fake, I only wear real. And I don't tell people to "Get Out" I have other people do that. " LOVE HER!!!

Click Below to Watch Donatella on "The View" commenting on Maya Rudolph's Uncanny Impression:

Also, click below for Donatella and the House of Versace being featured in one of my most favorite shows on the Sundance Channel. The series is called The Day Before and the show follows designers such as Versace, DVF and Alexander Wang 24 hours prior to their Fashion Show. It is not to be missed for all Fashionistas!!