Donatella Versace has been on a creative roll this year, and she’s not showing any signs of letting up. Right now she’s busy collecting rave reviews for her Fall 2016 Couture collection, first shown last week to a star-studded Paris audience including Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Naomi Campbell.
The A-list onlookers should come as no surprise, as Versace’s always been a popular brand among celebrities, but the collection outpaced even the high expectations of many viewers.
The line of sculpted, ribboned dresses, jackets, tailleurs and evening gowns included some of the house’s hallmarks—intricate draping and mixed fabrics—but eschewed others, like heavily embroidered pieces.
Pink, purple and steel blue pastels were dashed across black silhouettes like arcs of sprayed rosé, a hint of danger present in the asymmetry, but overall an effect of upright confidence. Less Kate Moss, more Diane Lane.
The palette took a definite cue from ‘80s discowear and has the distinct flavor of all the best parts of Miami Vice, with blush pink cashmere and seafoam trim peaking out from the back and inside of the collection’s artfully draped fabrics.
Other highlights included an asymmetric cocktail dress with a crescented bodice that devolved into a façade of netted straps, and a dress of all shimmering blue fringe.
No doubt, we’ll be seeing some of these gowns again on the red carpet this year.