Versace's Creative Director Leaves Amid $1.4 Billion Sale to Prada
In a move that came just days after the luxury fashion house changed hands for $1.4 billion, Versace creative director Dario Vitale has parted ways with the brand. His departure marks less than nine months into his tenure as creative director, following Donatella Versace at the helm.
According to reports, Prada and Vitale "have mutually agreed" on the split, which takes effect December 12. The Italian fashion house praised Vitale's contributions during his time at Versace, expressing their gratitude for his efforts in developing the brand's creative strategy during this transition period.
However, not everyone is shedding a tear over Vitale's exit. Business of Fashion had suggested earlier that Vitale was not seen as a natural fit to lead Versace by its new owners, with Prada's chief executive Andrea Guerra avoiding questions about him on investor calls. The site reported that the company's leadership was "unconvinced" that Vitale could successfully navigate the challenges of creative directorship.
Vitale's departure is seen as a significant blow to Versace, which has struggled in recent months. Sales at the brand have been declining, with a 15% drop reported in the last quarter of 2024. Miu Miu, on the other hand, has emerged as one of Prada's shining stars, with sales skyrocketing.
As Prada looks to fill the creative director vacancy, several top designers are reportedly being considered for the role. Among them is Olivier Rousteing, who left Balmain in October and has a reputation for delivering glamorous designs. Kim Jones, who departed from Fendi and Dior earlier this year, could also be a contender, having collaborated with Versace on the highly successful Fendace collection.
Donatella Versace stepped down as creative director in March after 27 years at the company, handing over the reins to Vitale, the first non-Versace family member to lead the brand. Despite her exit from the top spot, Donatella remains a key figure at Versace, serving as chief brand ambassador.
The $1.4 billion sale of Versace to Prada is seen as part of the Italian fashion house's broader strategy to become a luxury powerhouse rivaling existing conglomerates like LVMH and Kering.
In a move that came just days after the luxury fashion house changed hands for $1.4 billion, Versace creative director Dario Vitale has parted ways with the brand. His departure marks less than nine months into his tenure as creative director, following Donatella Versace at the helm.
According to reports, Prada and Vitale "have mutually agreed" on the split, which takes effect December 12. The Italian fashion house praised Vitale's contributions during his time at Versace, expressing their gratitude for his efforts in developing the brand's creative strategy during this transition period.
However, not everyone is shedding a tear over Vitale's exit. Business of Fashion had suggested earlier that Vitale was not seen as a natural fit to lead Versace by its new owners, with Prada's chief executive Andrea Guerra avoiding questions about him on investor calls. The site reported that the company's leadership was "unconvinced" that Vitale could successfully navigate the challenges of creative directorship.
Vitale's departure is seen as a significant blow to Versace, which has struggled in recent months. Sales at the brand have been declining, with a 15% drop reported in the last quarter of 2024. Miu Miu, on the other hand, has emerged as one of Prada's shining stars, with sales skyrocketing.
As Prada looks to fill the creative director vacancy, several top designers are reportedly being considered for the role. Among them is Olivier Rousteing, who left Balmain in October and has a reputation for delivering glamorous designs. Kim Jones, who departed from Fendi and Dior earlier this year, could also be a contender, having collaborated with Versace on the highly successful Fendace collection.
Donatella Versace stepped down as creative director in March after 27 years at the company, handing over the reins to Vitale, the first non-Versace family member to lead the brand. Despite her exit from the top spot, Donatella remains a key figure at Versace, serving as chief brand ambassador.
The $1.4 billion sale of Versace to Prada is seen as part of the Italian fashion house's broader strategy to become a luxury powerhouse rivaling existing conglomerates like LVMH and Kering.
so i'm thinking... dario vitale was only at versace for less than a year and already he's out? 
that's gotta be tough on the guy, but it seems like prada wasn't super sold on him from the getgo? 
their ceo andrea guerra is being pretty cagey about his abilities too. anyway, vitale's departure is def gonna shake things up at versace... they've been struggling to turn things around since donatella stepped down. 
i hope whoever takes over can bring some new energy to the brand! 
i mean dont get me wrong donatella is still my queen but vitale's departure is like a punch to the gut 
his designs were fire and he brought in that edgy vibe that versace so desperately needed 
and now prada gets to swoop in and steal all that talent lol seriously tho what were prada thinking by bringing in someone who wasnt seen as a natural fit 
like they already have so much going on with Miu Miu and stuff... now that Vitale is gone, its gonna be hard for them to come up with someone new who can bring the same level of success, you feel? I mean dont get me wrong, Prada's got a solid rep and all, but Versace needs that creative spark to revive those sales numbers 
.
Something is definitely not adding up here... 
. It's gonna be interesting to see how Versace recovers from this transition 
.
! Prada got him on a good deal, only 1.4 billion bucks is what it took to get rid of him 
! Donatella still got love for Versace though, she's like the mom of the family, always keeping it real 
. Prada's strategy to become a luxury powerhouse is smart, but they gotta put their money where their mouth is – or in this case, 1.4 billion dollars 
!
, I mean, Dario Vitale was supposed to be the next big thing at Versace! 
He had some amazing ideas for the brand's creative direction, but it just didn't seem like he was on the same page as Prada's new owners. 
It's weird that they're already looking for his replacement, though - can't they just give him a chance to prove himself? 
. They really do have some talented designers on their team. But for Versace, it feels like they're losing the magic of Donatella's personal touch. 
.
, I was really looking forward to seeing what he would do next 
. I feel for him, though - 8 months as creative director isn't a long time at all 
. And now Prada has this huge opportunity to shake things up with their new top designer 
. Maybe this change of creative direction will help Versace get back on track? Only time will tell 
.
. The brand's sales have been struggling, with a 15% drop in the last quarter of 2024 - that's no easy feat to turn around 
.
, and it's clear that Prada sees potential in that brand as part of their growth strategy 
.
. But hey, maybe this is an opportunity for Prada to bring in some fresh blood and turn things around 
. 15% sales drop, yeah good luck with that 
...and don't even get me started on olivier rousteing's ego