It is not just the dresses on the Versace catwalk that are for sale this Milan fashion week, but Versace itself.
In less tumultuous times, the biggest concern for Versace this weekend would be which actors might wear Versace gowns on Sunday’s Oscar red carpet.
The front row presence of Christopher Kane, Donatella’s British protege once employed at the now defunct Versus brand, prompted speculation of a possible joint-ticket designer arrangement, similar to that of Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, her co-designer for the past five years.
Nonetheless, references in this collection to autumn/winter 1997, the last collection Gianni designed before his death – a distinctive Sex Pistols punk fusion of black and daffodil yellow, oily leathers and Roy Lichtenstein brights - fuelled rumours of a possible departure.
But Donatella, who turns 70 this year and received a substantial payout in the 2018 deal, could decide to walk away if not enamoured with Versace’s next owner.
