What a week for fashion! We started out with the Fashion Awards in London on Monday, and within the blink of an eye everyone was in NYC for Matthieu Blazy’s impossibly good Chanel Metiérs d’art show. As the Belgian designer firms up his borderline revolutionary stint at the house, we learned that just two days after Prada Group’s acquisition of Versace was completed, Dario Vitale—the current creative director with only one collection under his belt—abruptly exited the Italian fashion house.
Vitale’s debut collection came this past September in Milan, where his sexy, subversive, ultra-layered silhouettes were met with triumphant reception. The new kid on the block, who had previously worked in a behind the scenes design role at Miu Miu, seemed poised for a long and fruitful tenure at the house, especially considering his previous job title. I personally loved the collection, and it felt as though it offered everything Versace was previously missing.
Unfortunately, it seems Prada group did not have the same feelings. The group has confirmed the exit and described it as a “mutual decision”, however reports indicate that Vitale was never their pick to helm the house despite the positivity surrounding his debut Spring/Summer 2026 show.
So, what’s next for Versace? And for Vitale? Hopefully, he will land on his feet just as Ludovic De Saint Serning did following his equally brief stint at Ann Demeulemeester back in 2023. As for Versace, a successor has not yet been announced, and the design team will reportedly operate under the guidance of Versace CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger, the company said. As for who’s next? BOF seems to think that if Vitale was never Prada Group’s first choice, they will have had plenty of time to line up a candidate while the deal was going through... Stay tuned!
Prada Group Officially Acquires Versace
Prada
On that note, let’s briefly go over the Prada Group’s acquisition of Versace, which, after being announced in late 2024, was completed on Dec 2. Mrs. Prada’s son, Lorenzo Bertelli, was reportedly the one who spearheaded the deal, and is now poised to become executive chairman of the Italian house. The deal reportedly went through for almost $1.4 billion. Donatella Versace, who is currently chief brand ambassador after stepping down as creative director late last year, welcomed the deal in an Instagram post, which also marked the birthday of the brand's late founder, her brother, Gianni Versace. “Today is your day and the day Versace joins the Prada family. I am thinking of the smile you would have had on your face,'' She said in the post. There have been speculations that Prada group will potentially seek Donatella’s return as a potential co-creative director, which has clearly worked exceptionally well for Mrs. Prada and Raf Simons at Prada, but who’s to say what will happen. It seems unlikely, but clearly anything is possible!
Demna Debuts His Second Collection For Gucci
Gucci
Gucci
For his sophomore collection at Gucci, Demna is throwing it back to Tom Ford’s blockbuster era with a Pre-Fall 2026 lookbook that mimics one of Gucci’s golden ages: Ford’s iconic late 90s shows where the runway was spotlit against a cool blue backdrop. The creative director is currently in a design overhaul, after mapping out the core archetypes of the Gucci woman and consumer in his debut Spring/Summer 2026 collection back in September, where, in Milan, the Georgian designer staged a movie premiere and red carpet. There are sleek pant and skirt suits worn with Ford’s signature shield sunglasses, leopard print coats and biker jackets with Gucci’s tricolour racing stripes down the arms. Furs are introduced later down the line, as are slinky mini and evening dresses. If Demna’s plan is to bring sex and subversion back to the house of Gucci, he’s doing an exceptional job.
Celine’s Infinite Possibilities
Celine
I love seeing what the luxury brands are doing for their holiday offerings, and first on the docket is Celine, who are offering a series of charms entitled ‘Infinite Possibilities’, with collectible jewellery charms that are designed to be worn on gourmettes or chunky bracelets, necklaces and safety pins. The playful designs, which feature heart shared padlocks, pearls, and other motifs are available in both silver and gold.
Balenciaga’s Gifting Campaign
Balenciaga
On to Balenciaga, who have released a gifting campaign featuring giftable products held by artfully manicured hands, photographed by Marie Valognes. In the images, perfectly manicured, Christmas-themed nail art almost steals the focus from the products, which include the Rodeo Bag, Avenue Pump, and Le City Bag, to name a few. It feels so festive! I love the holiday spirit, clearly.
