Versace is one of the most viscerally recognised fashion houses in the world — the Medusa, the Barocco, the gold chains, and the uncompromising visual maximalism are all instantly identifiable across cultures and generations. The cluster for this blog brings together factual brand questions (who killed Gianni Versace, who owns Versace, how to pronounce Versace) with product questions (versace shoes, versace eros smell) — all addressed directly. For the authenticated Versace bags and belts with worldwide duty-paid shipping, The Brands Villa Versace collection is the starting point.
Who Was Gianni Versace?
Giovanni Maria Versace — known as Gianni — was born on 2 December 1946 in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy. He grew up surrounded by his mother’s dress-making business and developed a fascination with the ancient Greco-Roman ruins near Reggio Calabria — the mosaics and architectural motifs of which would later become the visual vocabulary of his fashion house. He moved to Milan in 1972 and began working as a freelance designer. In 1978, he founded Gianni Versace SpA and opened his first boutique in Milan’s Via della Spiga. Gianni Versace’s defining contribution to fashion was the integration of maximalist Greco-Roman imagery (the Medusa, the Greek Key, the Barocco) with rock-and-roll glamour and bold sexuality. He dressed Madonna, Princess Diana, Elton John, and effectively invented the concept of the supermodel era through the relationships he built with Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
Who Killed Gianni Versace?
Gianni Versace was shot and killed on 15 July 1997 by Andrew Cunanan outside his Miami Beach mansion at 1116 Ocean Drive. Cunanan was a 27-year-old serial killer who had already murdered four other people in a cross-country killing spree before arriving in Miami Beach. He and Versace had met briefly on two prior occasions, though the nature of their acquaintance is disputed. Cunanan was found dead eight days after the Versace murder — of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a houseboat in Miami Beach — before any public motive for the killing was established. The 1997 murder ended one of the most creatively significant careers in modern fashion history. Donatella Versace, Gianni’s sister and long-time creative collaborator, took over as creative director. The murder was dramatised in the 2018 FX miniseries ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ starring Édgar Ramírez as Gianni and Darren Criss as Cunanan.
Donatella Versace — Creative Director Since 1997
Donatella Versace was born on 2 May 1955 in Reggio Calabria — four years younger than Gianni. She was Gianni’s closest collaborator throughout the brand’s development and was named the head of Versace’s licensing operations and the brand ambassador before his death. She took creative control in 1997 and has held the creative director role since. Donatella’s direction has maintained the core Gianni-era visual language — the Medusa, the gold, the maximalism — while adapting it to contemporary fashion contexts. Her collaborations with Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez (the green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammys directly inspired Google Image Search), and Dua Lipa have kept Versace in active cultural conversation. Under Donatella’s direction, the brand was sold to Capri Holdings in 2018 for $2.1 billion. As of mid-2025, Prada Group announced the acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings — verify current ownership and creative direction status before publishing.
Who Owns Versace?
Versace was a family-controlled company until 2018, when it was sold to Capri Holdings (formerly Michael Kors Holdings) for $2.1 billion. In early 2025, Prada Group — the Italian luxury group (Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s) — announced the acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings for approximately $1.375 billion. As of mid-2025, the acquisition was in progress or recently completed. Donatella Versace has indicated her intention to continue as creative director under the new ownership. The Prada Group-Versace combination would create one of the most significant multi-brand luxury groups outside of LVMH and Kering. Verify the current ownership status before publishing this blog, as the transaction may still be in completion or recently finalised.
How to Pronounce Versace
Versace is pronounced ver-SAH-che — three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable (SAH). The ‘ce’ ending is the Italian soft ‘ch’ sound (as in Italian words like ‘ciao’ or ‘arrivederci’ — the same sound as in ‘cheese’ in English). The common English mispronunciation as ‘ver-SACE’ (rhyming with ‘place’) is incorrect. The name is Italian — the brand was founded in Milan by Gianni Versace. The Italian pronunciation ‘ver-SAH-che’ is the correct form used in brand advertising, interviews, and throughout the fashion industry.
Versace Shoes
Versace produces a significant footwear range — the Medusa Aevitas platform pump (a sky-high platform heel with the Medusa head at the toe), the Odissea chunky sneaker, the Chain Reaction (a technical sneaker with chain-link detail), and the Greca Portico loafer are the most widely purchased styles. The Medusa Aevitas was photographed extensively on celebrities and has strong secondary market interest. At The Brands Villa, Versace shoes are not currently in the range — the BV Versace collection covers bags (Athena totes $1,592-$2,878) and belts (12 styles $297-$804). For the Versace bags collection and
What Does Versace Eros Smell Like?
Versace Eros Pour Homme smells fresh, woody, and sweet: the opening is dominated by fresh mint and green apple — an energetic, immediately identifiable opening note. The heart transitions to tonka bean, geranium, and ambroxan — a warm, slightly sweet mid-phase that carries the mint freshness forward. The base is vanilla, vetiver, cedarwood, and oakmoss — grounding the freshness in a woody, slightly earthy warmth. The overall effect is a bold, projecting masculine that reads as approachable and broadly appealing without being challenging or complex. It is very long-lasting (typically 8-12 hours on most skin types) and has strong projection in the first 2-3 hours. For the full Versace bags and accessories guide and the authenticated Versace range, The Brands Villa’s
Frequently Asked Questions About Versace
Who killed Gianni Versace?
Andrew Cunanan, a serial killer, shot Gianni Versace on 15 July 1997 outside his Miami Beach mansion. Cunanan was found dead eight days later of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The murder was dramatised in the 2018 FX series ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’.
How do you pronounce Versace?
ver-SAH-che — three syllables. The ‘ce’ ending is a soft Italian ‘ch’ (as in ‘cheese’). Not ‘ver-SACE’ (rhyming with ‘place’). The name is Italian — the brand was founded in Milan.
Who owns Versace now?
Versace was acquired by Capri Holdings in 2018. In early 2025, Prada Group announced the acquisition from Capri Holdings. Verify current ownership status before publishing — the deal was in progress or recently completed as of mid-2025.
Is Versace a luxury brand?
Yes — a fully luxury Italian fashion house, founded 1978 in Milan. Haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, and fragrances. Classified in the same tier as Gucci, Prada, and LV.
What does Versace Bright Crystal smell like?
Fresh floral: pomegranate and yuzu top, peony and magnolia heart, musk and amber base. Clean, feminine, broadly appealing. One of the most globally purchased women’s luxury fragrances.