Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXIII

1 6 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I VERSACE AUTUMN WINTER 2016 WOMENSWEAR Versace’s advertising campaign for autumn/winter 2016 was shot by Bruce Weber and star models Karlie Kloss and Gigi Hadid as presumed young mothers (both hand-in-hand with children and partners). Since they were unveiled, the adverts have elicited much discussion. Whilst many have praised the portrayal of a racially diverse family, some have commented that the depiction of the two as mothers could be deemed unrealistic given their ages – Kloss is 23 and Hadid turned 21 in April. Versace, however, explained her reasoning behind the idea and how it fits in with the luxury brand’s ethos. “With my collections, I've been thinking more and more about the real life of Versace, and the complexity of women's lives,” she said. “They run their own business, look after their family, travel, share time with friends, all often in the same day. I wanted to show the fullness of the Versace life in our campaign.” Given her ideals for the fashion house, the choice of models was obvious it seems. “I love Gigi and Karlie because of their amazing strength of character,” the designer explained. “They are their own women who will not compromise their individuality for anyone. I wanted to create imagery that was all about their brilliant individuality.” And Donatella’s latest collection is just that. Energetic, active, in control: individual pieces for city life – the Versace life. Powerful tailoring and oversized coats are the backbone of a woman’s urban wardrobe, even more so when designed to feature ergonomic panels and functional zips. Long-sleeve compact knit dresses have zips to reveal or conceal the skin beneath, making them ideal for day to night, and for the all- encompassing Versace woman. Shirts feature heavily as the new essential – in a vibrant clash of fabrics from cotton, printed silk to the classic rib knit – an eclectic mix just as you would find on a city street. Versace pairs shirts with sleek pants that are fitted, before flaring to a cropped ankle.