Haute Read – House of Versace

Versace. Just the name itself conjures a rush of pure fashion adrenaline, doesn’t it? We’re talking unapologetic glamour, a fearless embrace of sexuality, opulent textures, and designs that dare to turn heads. And yes, all of that iconic boldness is undeniably Versace. But that’s just the surface, the dazzling facade. The true story, the one that truly captivates, delves much deeper.

Enter “House of Versace,” the first English-language biography that peels back the layers of this legendary empire, revealing the extraordinary vision of its founder, Gianni Versace. Imagine a brilliant creative force, rising from humble beginnings in the often-overlooked south of Italy, possessing an almost supernatural understanding of women and how the seismic shifts in culture were shaping their desires. Gianni didn’t just design clothes; he intuitively grasped a changing world and translated it into empowering, boundary-pushing fashion.

This book paints a vivid picture of Gianni, often with his equally flamboyant sister Donatella as his steadfast ally, wielding his virtuosic talent and relentless ambition to essentially architect the celebrity-obsessed culture we now consider the norm. Think about it – Versace’s runways weren’t just fashion shows; they were star-studded spectacles, blurring the lines between the runway and the red carpet, a phenomenon largely pioneered by Gianni himself.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn, recounting Gianni’s tragic and untimely murder in Miami Beach at the height of his creative powers. The world watched, gripped by the front-page news and the intense manhunt for his killer. In the aftermath, Donatella, his beloved sister, stepped forward with unwavering strength, demanding a funeral in Milan’s grand cathedral that mirrored the gravity of a fallen head of state. And what a spectacle it was – a true “fashion show” of mourning, gathering the crème de la crème of the world: Princess Diana, Elton John, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Anna Wintour, a constellation of icons paying tribute to a man already cemented as a fashion visionary.

Deborah Ball, a seasoned Milan correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, takes us behind the scenes, drawing on hundreds of interviews with the Versace family, Gianni’s intimates, rivals, and the very supermodels he helped catapult to global stardom, including the legendary Naomi Campbell, alongside fashion titan Anna Wintour.

Ball masterfully chronicles Donatella’s tumultuous journey as she emerged from her brother’s colossal shadow to seize the reins of the House of Versace. The book offers an unprecedented glimpse into the immense pressures she faced in attempting to live up to Gianni’s genius, her personal battles, her complex relationship with her brother Santo, and the lingering mystery surrounding Gianni’s surprising decision to leave control of his empire to Donatella’s young daughter, Allegra.

“House of Versace” isn’t just a fashion biography; it’s a compelling, page-turning saga of a meteoric rise from obscurity, a devastating fall, and the arduous climb towards redemption as the Versace empire fought its way back to prominence – a story that continues to captivate.

Blending the dazzling world of high fashion with celebrity intrigue, business drama, jet-set lifestyles, and a notorious crime, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone fascinated by the power of creativity, the complexities of family, and the enduring legacy of a true fashion revolutionary. Get ready to be utterly absorbed in the captivating world of Versace, beyond the bold and into the brilliant.