On October 5th Gina Gershon and Enrico Colantoni starred as Donatella and Gianni Versace in the Lifetime Original Movie House of Versace.
Donatella Versace understood the power of celebrity endorsement and the media, dressing A-Listers such as Jennifer Lopez, Halley Berry, Catherine Zeta Jones, Jessica Alba and Elizabeth Hurley in Versace gowns.
Gianni (the visual artist) concentrated on his goddess personifications, garment cut, fabric movement and overseeing hair and makeup. Backstage team executed slept-in hair and smoky eyes for the first fashion scene, while Snap The Power cued the introduction to a fashion show.
Photo shoot wardrobe included a patent leather mini dress in statement colors, like pale pink, hot pink, fire-red and electric yellow. As Gianni’s muse and stylist, Donatella always dressed to the nine, most notably in a pair of black-red hot pants and a patent leather safety-pin jacket.
The mother and daughter relationship between Donatella and Allegra was heart-felt, with memorable statements like, “My mother started the day with the application of lipstick” and “Lead in fashion, never follow.” –Donatella Versace
Donatella tells Vanity Fair magazine, “A woman’s dress should be like a barbed wire fence; serve a purpose without causing obstruction,” and how “Versace created the Supermodel,” while opening up about her intimate sibling and professional relationship with Gianni, “Gianni and I are the same person, two sides of the same coin.”
Gianni’s premature departure was a pivotal moment in fashion history, as Donatella was thrust into the role of Creative Director. Although she was given an option to step down, Donatella pressed onward, valiantly struggling to keep the House’s sovereign integrity. The task to mirror Gianni’s legacy proved challenging, resulting in drug addiction, divorce, separation from her children and a downward spiral of the Versace brand. Rehab intervention soon followed.
Time away from the Versace atelier allowed Donatella an opportunity to reflect and speak with real women about what they wanted and needed. “Versace began with Gianni, but like any great brand, you keep the identity, keep the DNA, but it needs to be updated.” -Donatella Versace
Scenes included a man (presumably Alexander McQueen) as the phantom hand revitalizing fabric cut for Donatella’s new designs. The new collection for today’s woman, according to Donatella, was to make them feel empowered, sexy, confident and beautiful, like they could do anything. The collection finally stopped being what Donatella thought Gianni would want and now became hers; new and beautiful. CeCe Peniston Finally cued the ending to the movie.
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