Versace’s Runway, Not Runway
Dario Vitale’s debut at Versace will be runway, not runway. Rather than launching with a grand catwalk spectacle, the Spring 2026 collection will be unveiled through an intimate presentation on September 26 during Milan Fashion Week. A Versace spokesperson confirmed the event will “honor the past and envision the future,” with sources noting a video component is also planned.
The format marks a striking departure from the house’s legacy of high-glamour runway shows, where appearances by Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, and Naomi Campbell have cemented Versace’s place in pop-cultural lore. But this more restrained moment signals a clean slate—not just for Vitale, but for Versace’s next chapter.
Appointed Chief Creative Officer in April, Vitale succeeds Donatella Versace, now Chief Brand Ambassador. Formerly the ready-to-wear design director at Miu Miu, Vitale’s aesthetic sensibility has been described as subtle and intentional—an intriguing match for a brand built on baroque boldness.
His debut also arrives at a pivotal corporate moment. In April, Prada Group announced it would acquire 100 percent of Versace from Capri Holdings in a €1.25 billion deal expected to close by year’s end. While the group insists Vitale’s appointment was independent of the transaction, both moves reflect a broader recalibration.
Vitale’s first offering, though stripped of spectacle, is no less consequential. Runway, not runway, may be less about scale and more about substance.