Ryan Knutson

July 15th, the fashion world is rocked by the murder in Miami Beach of Italian designer Gianni Versace. After Gianni's death, Donatella took his place as creative leader of Versace. In that role, she went on to create some of the brand's most iconic looks and ad campaigns, featuring stars like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce.

July 15th, the fashion world is rocked by the murder in Miami Beach of Italian designer Gianni Versace. After Gianni's death, Donatella took his place as creative leader of Versace. In that role, she went on to create some of the brand's most iconic looks and ad campaigns, featuring stars like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce.

But by the early 2000s, Versace the business was having a hard time. It was struggling to compete against bigger brands like LVMH and Kering, which were starting to acquire family-run fashion houses like Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci.

But by the early 2000s, Versace the business was having a hard time. It was struggling to compete against bigger brands like LVMH and Kering, which were starting to acquire family-run fashion houses like Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci.

But by the early 2000s, Versace the business was having a hard time. It was struggling to compete against bigger brands like LVMH and Kering, which were starting to acquire family-run fashion houses like Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci.

Despite its troubles, Versace wasn't really looking to sell. But then, Donatella Versace met John Idol.

Despite its troubles, Versace wasn't really looking to sell. But then, Donatella Versace met John Idol.

Despite its troubles, Versace wasn't really looking to sell. But then, Donatella Versace met John Idol.

How did he do that?

How did he do that?

How did he do that?

With Michael Kors, Idol had bought a small business and turned it into a global multi-billion dollar company. And in 2018, he tried to persuade Donatella that he could do the same for Versace.

With Michael Kors, Idol had bought a small business and turned it into a global multi-billion dollar company. And in 2018, he tried to persuade Donatella that he could do the same for Versace.

With Michael Kors, Idol had bought a small business and turned it into a global multi-billion dollar company. And in 2018, he tried to persuade Donatella that he could do the same for Versace.

Michael Kors bought Versace for just over $2 billion. Idol took over the business side of things, and Donatella stayed on as the brand's creative director. After the sale, Idle changed the name of his company from Michael Kors to Capri, named after an island off the Italian coast.

Michael Kors bought Versace for just over $2 billion. Idol took over the business side of things, and Donatella stayed on as the brand's creative director. After the sale, Idle changed the name of his company from Michael Kors to Capri, named after an island off the Italian coast.

Michael Kors bought Versace for just over $2 billion. Idol took over the business side of things, and Donatella stayed on as the brand's creative director. After the sale, Idle changed the name of his company from Michael Kors to Capri, named after an island off the Italian coast.

But not long after the acquisition, a seam started to tear in their relationship. An early warning sign was that the American executives and Italian designers had a hard time even talking to each other.

But not long after the acquisition, a seam started to tear in their relationship. An early warning sign was that the American executives and Italian designers had a hard time even talking to each other.

But not long after the acquisition, a seam started to tear in their relationship. An early warning sign was that the American executives and Italian designers had a hard time even talking to each other.