Page 70 - MG Magazine

helena christensen - claudia schiffer ast century’s 70s and 80s were two very prolific dec-

ades in the world of design and fashion. During those
years, creators such as Gianni Versace, Yves Saint
Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Halston, Cal-
vin Klein, Ralph Lauren or Donna Karan forged their
Lfame and recognition.

In 1997 Gianni Versace was already a great figure in the
world of fashion. A privileged and very creative mind. He
had revolutionized haute couture with his innovative art
and his colourful and ground-breaking personal stamp. He
dressed movie and rock stars, and top models adored him.
Given his worldwide fame, his murder was one of the most
shocking deaths in memory. And his loss left an irreplacea-
ble void among the artists of his generation.
The tragedy occurred on the front steps of his Miami
Beach mansion, as Gianni was returning from a morning
stroll down Ocean Drive. That was the place chosen by
Andrew Cunanan to shoot to death the designer. It was
July 15th, 1997, and Versace was 50 years old. Three
days after his death, his younger sister, Donatella Ver-
sace, took control and launched her first haute couture
show for the firm at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris. Today she
holds the reins of the empire and supervises the expan-
sion of her complimentary lines, furniture for homes
and hotels. A global lifestyle and luxury brand that 2018
reached $850 million turnover.

donatella y gianni versace