Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

F ounded in 1978 in Milan, Gianni Versace SpA is one of the leading international fashion design houses and a symbol of Italian luxury worldwide. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including haute couture, prêt-à- porter, accessories, jewellery, watches, eyewear, fragrances and home furnishings, all bearing the distinctive Medusa logo. The Versace Group distributes its products through a worldwide D.O.S. network which includes over 180 boutiques in the principal cities and over 1500 wholesalers worldwide. Donatella Versace has been Artistic Director of Versace since 1997 and has steered the brand into the 21st century. Today, Versace represents its heritage through its strong and fearless designs while addressing a new global audience, which continues to strengthen Versace’s position in contemporary culture. For spring/summer 2016 she has unleashed the Versace woman in the urban jungle, fusing masculine tailoring with a feminine elegantly sculptured waist brought about via a neon belt. Safari shades of green and khaki combine with a new animalier print that is actually a mix of many different prints: tiger, leopard and zebra. Utility jackets in khaki and desert sand make for little belted dresses, pegged as the new daywear essential. The Versace military jacket – be it a bomber, blazer, a blouson, cropped or not – was key. A laminated bouclé jacket with a silk chiffon fringe, paired with a below-the-knee pencil skirt, stood out in the collection. There were little chiffon torn dresses of camouflage combinations in neon orange, jungle green, purple and black, trailing cuffs on sheer chiffon gowns, raw edged flowing gowns of animal print silk chiffon and tough jackets patched with animal print. Energised animal prints clash and contrast throughout the collection with street attitude, with acid leopard and zebra prints often combined in the same look. But what gave these spots and stripes their urban 1 5 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I