Donatella Versace Exits As Dario Vitale Is Named Creative Director

AFTER NEARLY 30 years, Donatella Versace is stepping down as the chief creative officer of Versace, the fashion house founded by her late brother Gianni Versace in 1978. The Italian House announced the shock departure overnight, in a statement which also immediately revealed Versace’s successor: Miu Miu alum Dario Vitale. His appointment marks the first time in the House’s near-50 years that a designer outside of the namesake family will take the reins.

Though Donatella is stepping down from the creative director role, she won’t be departing the House entirely; instead, she is shifting into a Chief Brand Ambassador role. In a statement, the iconic designer — who stepped up following her brother’s tragic murder in 1997, and continued his legacy — paid tribute to her brother and spoke warmly of Vitale’s appointment.

“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,” she said. “I want to thank my incredible design team and all the employees at Versace that I have had the privilege of working with for over three decades.”

“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,” she continued. “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.”

Vitale will become chief creative officer as of April 1. The 43-year-old Italian designer studied at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni in Milan, and cut his teeth at Bottega Veneta, Dsquared2 and finally Miu Miu, eventually becoming the House’s design and image director. It’s believed that his first collection for Versace will come during the spring/summer 2026 season in Milan.

“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,” Vitale said in a statement released by Versace. “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,” he continued. “It is a privilege to contribute to the future growth of Versace and its global impact through my vision, expertise and dedication.”

The news of Donatella’s departure comes amid a turbulent time in the luxury fashion creative director world — just overnight, clashing with the Versace news, it was announced that Demna will leave Balenciaga to take the top job at Gucci, following Sabato de Sarno’s shock exit.

But the Versace news has left fans surprised and sad, as it marks the end of a particularly long era (especially in comparison to the lightning-fast entries and exits of so many creative directors today). Multiple designers, models and friends of the fashion world commented their support on the Instagram post announcing her exit, including Pierpaolo Piccioli, Harris Reed, Linda Evangelista, Pat McGrath, and Elizabeth Hurley. Her legacy — which was inextricably tied with that of her late brother’s — has an indelible impact on the fashion industry, and hers will certainly be a tough act to follow.