Versace kicked off Paris couture week with a colourful and luxurious collection awash in fluorescent hues and real 24-carat gold accents. Kevin Costner and Princess Charlene of Monaco were among the celebrities at Donatella Versace’s Atelier Versace show, which launched Haute Couture fashion week in the French capital. Versace’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection explored the relationship between architectural shapes and ethereal fabrics. The colour palette was a riot of fluorescent yellow and pink sprinkled with black and gold numbers. Designer Donatella Versace said: “I have two fabrics in this collection. One is black pinstripe, but the stripe is real gold, so the silk is woven with real gold. Another one is a Japanese denim, woven with real gold again. But you cannot do this kind of thing for example for pret-à-porter, it would cost a fortune.” Versace was founded by the late Gianni Versace in 1978. Donatella Versace took over the reins following the death of her brother who was murdered in Miami Beach in 1997. The Italian label is best-known for its sexy silhouettes and over-the-top glamour.
