It wouldn’t be a Versace show without a swarm of It-girls commanding the runway.
Decamping from her usual base in Milan to show her wares in Los Angeles — only three days before the Oscars — Donatella Versace says she was inspired by the energy, glamour, and power of Hollywood. She had plenty of that but needed one more thing to make it all work: good weather.
And so, with rain expected on Friday, Versace was forced to move her show ahead by a day. It may have been chaotic, but it was the right move.
Her star-studded runway shows Thursday took place on a cool but gorgeous Los Angeles evening on a spectacular rooftop overlooking the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains, sleek skyscrapers, and the Hollywood hills. Oh, and daylight ceded to darkness right as the show ended — just in time to turn on the floodlights, blast “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince and head to cocktails.
The sun was still out when the crowd began making its way up to the roof of the imposing Pacific Design Centre on Melrose Avenue, with its distinctive blue glass exterior.
Guests included a cross-section of the music, film, fashion, and sports worlds: Cher was there, as was Elton John, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and Lil Nas X. From cinema, there were two best supporting actress Oscar winners — Ariana DeBose and Anne Hathaway — plus a favourite for best supporting actor this year, Ke Huy Quan. From sports, former NBA star Dwyane Wade was there with wife Gabrielle Union.
Attendees jostled to take selfies with the spectacular view behind them, and staffers warned them not to step too far backward and fall off the building.
Gigi Hadid, who’s made headlines recently as the host of Netflix’s Next in Fashion second season, opened the show at the Pacific Design Centre in West Hollywood wearing a black razor-sharp skirt suit, black leather gloves, stilettos and a black holdall bag (she later wore a breath-taking low-slung gown with sheer corset panels). Elsewhere, Naomi Campbell turned heads as she sashayed in a halter dress, while Emily Ratajkowski delivered optimum femme fatale in a waist-cinching midi slip and leather gloves. To finish it all off, Kendall Jenner closed the show wearing a crystal-embellished minidress with a voluminous capelet and bejewelled neckline.
Other mega model moments included Adut Akech, Liu Wen, Mariacarla Boscono, Anok Yai, Imaan Hammam, Irina Shayk, and Vittoria Ceretti. It’s safe to say that, wherever it may take place in the world, there wouldn’t be a Versace show without a swarm of It-girls commanding the runway.
