Donatella Versace Biography

Donatella Versace, the younger sister of the famous designer Gianni Versace was his adviser and inspiration while he was a budding designer. ^[1]When Gianni Versace started his own fashion company in Milan, ^[2]she was right there by his side and organized many fashion shows and advertising campaigns. He awarded her with her own diffusion label, ‘Versus’ which produces clothes till today. But after his murder, the ‘Versace’ Empire fell upon hard times and she became creative director of the ‘Versace Group’. It was during the rebuilding process that Donatella showed her other talent - public relations. Using such celebrity friends as Madonna, Demi Moore, Elton John and others, she began to equate the ‘Versace’ name with celebrity in the public eye. By doing so, she managed to turn the ‘Versace’ line back into a force in the fashion industry. Another of the tactic she developed to ensure the visibility of the brand was to use well-known models for the catwalk shows which would generate press coverage. She brought a new sensibility to the house of ‘Versace’. ^[3]These days, the label is more in tune with the modern woman, while retaining her brother's original ethos. ^[4]She has emerged from her brother’s shadow and has diversified to other fields by creating branded hotels in Australia and Dubai.

• In 1979, Donatella moved to Milan to work with Gianni, first as a design assistant and later in the public relations department. She was the only person who could contradict her brother with her constructive criticism.
• She plunged into the fashion world during the 1980s. Gianni launched a perfume ‘Blonde’, ^[5]dedicated to her and gave her own diffusion label, ‘Versus’, which remains a well-known Versace inner line.
• The assassination of Gianni in Florida in July 1997 devastated her, ^[6]but she quickly recollected herself and took-over as the chief designer. In October, she made her solo debut for spring the following year.
• In 1998, she mounted her first couture show for the Versace Atelier at Hotel Ritz Paris. She built her runway over the hotel's swimming pool, like her brother, but this time using sheer glass.
• Her first collection, attended by a host of celebrities, was a triumph. But in typical Donatella fashion, she credited its success to the seamstresses and models and dedicated the show to her late brother.
• The show became an annual event, with regular guests including Catherine Zeta Jones, Liz Hurley, Elton John and even Prince Charles. She began to use well-known models for the catwalk shows, to generate press coverage.
• Several low-key receptions, however, did not deter her. She continued to manage earlier collections, but she believed that she could not just continue with what Gianni was doing.
• In 2002, Gianni and Donatella's most famously designed Versace clothing was a special exhibit at the historical Victoria and Albert Museum of London to be honored for extraordinary fashion success and symbolism worldwide.
• The company created the grand, luxurious Palazzo Versace resort on the Gold Coast of Australia while the Burj al-Arab, in Dubai boasts a broad collection of Versace furniture and beddings in its lavish rooms.
• Plans for the Palazzo Versace Dubai were announced in May 2005. The Palazzo Versace boasts a number of suites and luxury villas, including an exclusive spa. The hotel interiors are furnished with various Versace collections. As Creative Director, Donatella executed the final plans.
• In 2008, she was made the honorary chairman for London's ‘Fashion Fringe’. The ‘Fashion Fringe’ was an initiative by fashion writer Colin McDowell and ‘IMG Fashion’ to support emerging designers.
• In 2009, Donatella asked Christopher Kane, the Scottish designer, to revive ‘Versus’. ^[7]The pair successfully revitalized the brand, making it a major player again on the ‘Fashion Week’ schedule.
• In November 2012, Kane departed from ‘Versus’ as the Italian fashion house planned to completely overhaul the label, ceasing the production of seasonal collections - with a renewed focus on digital.
• JW Anderson, an Irish designer was appointed to create a capsule collection for the ‘Versus’ label, as he's well versed with the new digital world and therefore, an ideal partner for their new direction.

Answers:

1.     ^[1] Past Tense, because it use verb 2

^[2] Present Tense, because it informs fact

^[3] Present Perfect, because it use has + verb 3

2.   ^[7] The pair successfully revitalized the brand, making it a major player again on the ‘Fashion Week’ schedule = The pair successfully revitalized the brand to make it a major player again on the ‘Fashion Week’ schedule

^[2] She was right there by his side and organized many fashion shows and advertising campaigns = She was right there by his side to advertise campaigns and organized many fashion shows

3.     ^[5] dedicated to her and gave her own diffusion label = Personal Pronouns

^[6] but she quickly recollected herself = Reflexive Pronouns