From NBA to K-Pop: Versace is 2023's Celeb IT Brand
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The fashion industry is seeing new, exciting developments in 2023. There has been an ongoing trend of high fashion houses appointing celebrities as ambassadors. Compared to their exclusivity in the past decades, designer labels are starting to embrace the power of having influential personalities represent their brands. This can be seen in partnerships like Florence Pugh being named the newest face of Valentino and Zendaya doing her first campaign with Louis Vuitton last April.
One luxury brand that has been actively selecting its celebrity ambassadors for 2023 is Versace. From world-renowned athletes to global pop stars, Versace has got it all. Here’s a closer look at Versace’s newest celebrity partnerships.
A Background on Versace
Luxury apparel has always been very selective about those who could be seen wearing their goods. In the early days of Hollywood, only the most elite A-Listers were dressed by fashion houses, such as when Marlene Dietrich wore Dior for Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “Stage Fright,” or with Audrey Hepburn sported the iconic black Chanel dress in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It was a calculated move to maintain an image of exclusivity and wealth. It was Versace that began to challenge this notion in the 1980s.
Created by Versace siblings Gianni, Donatella, and Santo, the brand recognized the influence of superstardom early on. When Versace was starting to rise as a haute couture company, it began collaborating with many of the world’s most famous personalities. While other brands were content with just one ambassador, Versace was busy arranging ground-breaking events, such as the career-defining autumn/winter 1991 collection. For this show, Versace sent out the world’s top models, including Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Linda Evangelista, on one runway. Since then, Versace has partnered with celebrities, like actors for press events, musicians on campaigns, and athletes for endorsements.
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Up until today, Versace has kept up this practice. The brand had a solid presence on the 2023 Academy Awards red carpet, with prominent celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Ariana DeBose, and Kerry Condon wearing custom-made gowns. Apart from this, the fashion house shows no signs of stopping as it continues to add big names to its growing roster.
The Faces of Versace in 2023
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2023 started off strong for Versace, with Emily Ratajkowski being the center of the Spring/Summer 2023 collection. This is in continuation of her 2022 campaign, where she modeled the newest Versace women’s sunglasses. The designs feature the brand’s classic sleek Italian style and high-quality builds. The elegant silhouettes she wore included an updated version of the Medusa Biggie Frames made famous by rapper Biggie Smalls.
Similarly, the brand also came out with a collection for male audiences. For this, it tapped former NBA player Dwayne Wade for the Versace men’s eyewear line. Wade recently made headlines in the fashion community for his chic outfit at the 2022 Met Gala, where the basketball star modeled three frames for Versace embodying a refined, effortless style with the geometrically-shaped sunglasses. But eyewear wasn’t the only avenue where Versace was making bold moves.
Versace presented a fashion line at Cannes that was designed with the help of famous singer Dua Lipa. The collection was inspired by summer and holiday styles, with Dua Lipa modeling most of the pieces in the campaign. The line includes vibrant dresses and the dramatic silhouettes that the brand is known for, blending the timelessness of Versace with the trends of today.
The fashion house continues to expand its influence, which can be seen in its most recent face. It recently appointed Hwang Hyunjin as its newest global ambassador. Hyunjin is most famous for being a member of the K-Pop group Stray Kids. Donatella Versace states that the singer’s confidence and energy inspired her, as he represented a global voice that suited the brand’s values. With this latest collaboration, there is no doubt that the brand will continue to thrive and grow its Versace family.
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