DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid shared praise for Italian fashion icon Donatella Versace on Saturday, days after the latter announced she will be stepping down as the creative director of the Italian luxury fashion house founded by her late brother Gianni Versace.
“Donatella era … will live on for infinity,” Hadid posted on Instagram alongside a carousel of images of her various shoots for the storied fashion house.
Bella Hadid shared praise for Italian fashion icon Donatella Versace on Saturday, days after the latter announced she will be stepping down as the creative director of the Italian luxury fashion house founded by her late brother Gianni Versace. (Instagram)
“Our time together will be memories I am buried with. The first time I truly felt beautiful in our industry … thank you for being fashion mother to us all, for making us feel loved, beautiful, unique, sexy, happy,” she added.
Versace replied with her own message for the model, who has starred in campaigns for Versace and has hit the runway for the luxury label on numerous occasions.
“Bella, your words truly mean the world to me. You are beautiful inside and out with a heart made of Versace gold. I love you so, so much. Thank you for always being there for me. With love, Donatella Versace,” she wrote in the comments section.
Bell Hadid posted a carousel of images of her various shoots for the storied fashion house. (Instagram)
The designer will assume the new role of chief brand ambassador, Versace’s US owner Capri Holdings announced on Thursday.
Versace will be replaced by Dario Vitale, who most recently was design director at the Miu Miu brand owned by the Prada Group. His appointment is effective on April 1, the Associated Press reported.
Versace, 69, welcomed Vitale, emphasizing in a statement that “championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me,'” while Vitale, 41, thanked Versace for "her trust in me.”
Versace was thrust into the role of creative director in 1997 after her brother's murder in Miami, at first tentatively and then with a boldness that led to some big runway and red carpet moments.
The creative shift comes amid speculation that the Prada Group is in talks to buy Versace from Capri Holdings, which paid 2 billion euros (currently $2.2 billion) for the fashion house in 2018. The U.S. group also owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, AP reported.
Miuccia Prada acknowledged interest in the brand on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week last month, while Versace made no comment at what was to be her last runway show.
