Donatella Versace had more than just the stars who attended Versace’s autumn/winter 2023 co-ed runway show a day earlier to thank. The smart (and quick) decision to hold the runway show a day earlier prevented the entire event from being rained out. And based on weather data, it was quite a downpour on Friday evening, what would have been the show’s original schedule.
The Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue was the venue of choice and it was perfect. Held on the rooftop, the locale afforded a 360-view of the best of Los Angeles—from the Hollywood Hills to the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains. The stars (both of the Hollywood variety as well as global influencers) descended upon the rooftop but the collection was perhaps the much shinier beacon.
Versace is known for its rather maximalist ventures. Its Barocco signature is hardly a subtle event, and the same goes for its Greca trim and monogram. The autumn/winter 2023 collection however displayed a more restrained Versace with a precise focus on craftsmanship referenced from its Atelier Versace line, while still retaining those elements.
The entire collection was connected by black—a swathe of looks that kicked off the runway show, peppered throughout the middle, and then closed in more dramatic evening fashion. Yes, the drama and austerity of Versace as a fashion house were not at all lost.
“This is a celebration of our craftsmanship and understanding of true luxury to create a wardrobe for the innovators and changers of the world and the people who champion them,” attests Donatella.
And it was luxurious in a lot of ways. The black kick-off was beautifully tailored with subtle homages to old Hollywood glamour, especially in the trio of Audrey Hepburn-esque black dresses, complete with sunglasses. The silhouette throughout was signature Versace—body-hugging and in the house’s favoured hourglass. Atelier Versace techniques and design elements were evident in the fluted necklines, folded structural busts as well as beautifully constructed rounded shoulders in a number of the looks.
Yet, with quite a heavy Atelier Versace influence, the autumn/winter 2023 collection felt contemporary and accessible. And by accessible, I mean that they looked as though anyone could simply slip into a look without feeling unnecessarily constrained or restricted—things that sometimes happen with couture-level fashion.
There were a few accessories of note, including a cargo-inspired men’s bag available in a few variations featuring multiple zipped compartments, but it was really the clothes that stood out. There was so much smart editing done that this was easily one of the best Versace collections to date. Thankfully, we all bore witness to it dry.
View the full Versace autumn/winter 2023 collection in the gallery below.
