Versace For H&M Party Was Like '90s Time Capsule (PHOTOS)
To say that I'm a huge fan of vintage Versace would be an understatement. A 1990 photograph of Donatella and Gianni Versace donning matching blazers hangs above my desk, and I think Elizabeth Hurley's infamous Versace safety pin dress was the epitome of early '90s chic. So when I discovered the much anticipated collaboration between the Italian luxury label and Swedish megachain H&M would pay homage to Gianni and the days of yore, I couldn't wait for the massive runway extravaganza to get my eye on the clothes.
Held inside New York City's Pier 57, the space was utterly transformed into a multi-room gallery of sorts that housed a gold mirrored cocktail room, maze-like runway and, for the after party, a '90s time capsule of a club replete with indoor cigarette smoking, Miami palm prints and disco balls. In other words, it was heaven. The question wasn't who was there, but rather who wasn't there: '90s icons like Uma Thurman, Sofia Coppola, Linda Evangelista and Helena Christensen, along with relatives of '90s royalty Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny) and Emma Roberts (niece of Julia), other notable attendees, including actresses Blake Lively and Jessica Alba, musicians such as Prince, Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha, fashion designers like Alexander Wang, Anna Sui, Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Joseph Altuzarra and Sophie Theallet and photographers like Bruce Weber and Patrick Demarchelier, joined Donatella Versace in the unveiling of what she called her "greatest hits collection." And boy, was it ever.
Models fashioned like the designer herself opened the show in leather, studded minidresses and bandanas. Animal prints, florals, palm trees and electric brights followed in what had to be the fastest runway show on record, considering the collection housed 43 looks.
Once the show was over, Versace, herself, literally waved the crowd into her own private club where Minaj took centerstage. There, she lead the crowd in rip roaring renditions of "Super Bass," "Moment 4 Life" and a personal "Go Donatella" chant. "Y'all are gonna have to fight me for those clothes afterwards," she screamed before leaping off-stage. "I'm chargin' everything!"
Prince, on the other hand, opted out of his usual hits, settling on his more recent fare. But it didn't matter, the masses were on their feet from the moment he ascended. However, being the true artist that he is, he finally gave the crowd what they wanted with an iconic version of "Purple Rain."
Click below for an inside look at the star studded pack and collection, which hits stores November 19th.
ElegantGownsNY.com