Donatella Versace

>> Yesterday, Versus hit the runway for the first time in over a decade, under the creative direction of Christopher Kane. “To restore Versus like it used to be means to bring this collection once again on the catwalk, to show in a proper location and in a proper town, and to intrigue the VIP,” Donatella Versace told W. “And it will keep getting bigger and bigger. But not too big. Not yet. Because we are not ready. If you do it big, then you’ve got to do it big. I never really gave Christopher a proper party before either, but I will.”

The Spring 2011 collection, shown against a playground backdrop with a soundtrack of children at play, prompted the Wall Street Journal to write of Kane and Versace's professional relationship: "It was hard not to look at Versus and wonder who [between Versace and Kane] is influencing whom.  Spokesman Tomaso Galli insists Mr. Kane is the understudy. I asked if Mr. Kane consulted on the Versace collection. 'No. Not at all,' Mr. Galli said firmly. 'Not at all.'"

But that doesn't mean that Kane won't be working on the Versace collection one day. When W asked if she could see Kane heading up the house, Donatella replies without hesitation: “At the moment Versus is enough. But I can see him there, yes. For sure.”

Between now and then, however, Kane may have to change his laissez-faire attitude towards celebrity clientele — they are part of the brand DNA. The Versace show was delayed on Friday for more than 45 minutes waiting for January Jones to arrive, whereas Kane once cordially told Victoria Beckham no when she asked for a dress to be sent. “Yes, but let’s get this straight,” explains Kane. “I’ve got nothing against her. I think she’s really great. I think she’s really beautiful. I just wasn’t in a position to gift celebrities at that point. So in the end she bought it.”

>> The second season of The Day Before, Loic Prigent's documentary series which follows six designers — Diane von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace, Alexander Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Nina Ricci's Peter Copping, and Jeremy Scott — in the 36 hours leading up to their Fall 2010 show, premieres tomorrow night, Sept. 8, on the Sundance Channel at 10 pm EST with von Furstenberg, with one episode airing each night after that through Sept. 13.

Prigent is known for receiving unprecedented access into designers' inner sanctums — he captures von Furstenberg practicing yoga as she fits models, Wang in the midst of a "chiffon crisis," Narciso Rodriguez leaving his studio in a panic two hours before his show with two key looks unfinished, and Copping staging his first ever show for Nina Ricci. Clips from the episodes, below.

The clips! »

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Design Week in Milan saw the unveiling of Versace’s 2010 Home collection. Donatella Versace's current furniture and glass home decor line is colorful, over-the-top, and exactly what you would expect from the more-is-more Milanese fashion designer. The Sunburst round table with chromed metal legs (above), ornate multicolored armchairs, and Baroque-inspired pillows will all be available in Versace stores this fall along with a blown glassware collection in collaboration with Italian brand Venini (below).

>> Second Season of Loic Prigent's The Day Before Confirmed for September —Documentarian Loic Prigent captured Sonia Rykiel, Proenza Schouler, Fendi, and Jean Paul Gaultier in the 36 hours leading up to their respective shows for the premiere season of the Sundance Channel's series The Day Before. As reported, he's back for a second round, having followed Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Jeremy Scott, Narciso Rodriguez, Peter Copping at Nina Ricci, and Donatella Versace at Versace during the Fall 2010 season. The new season premieres Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 10 PM. Prigent noted, “We explored the energy of New York with young labels like Alexander Wang, grandes dames like Diane von Furstenberg, energy and humor with Jeremy Scott, and couturelike precision with Narciso Rodriguez. In Paris, you see the sweetness and romanticism of Nina Ricci, and the extreme everything of Donatella Versace in Milan. All those houses are very different, which has made it such a crazy experience.” [Full Frontal Fashion]

>> Versace Currently on Track For Profitability by 2011—Two months ago, Versace announced it was eliminating 26 percent of its workforce in an effort to regain profitability by 2011. Now, company CEO Gian Giacomo Ferraris says the brand is on track with its goal — boutique sales are up 10 percent since January, the Fall 2010 collection is nearly entirely pre-sold to wholesalers, and revenue is now about 10 percent of Gucci and slightly higher than Yves Saint Laurent.  And although it's been suggested that majority holder Allegra Beck Versace might sell her stake in the company, Ferraris says not so: "With this plan, there is no urgency (for any family members to sell). This plan will guarantee the cashflow to run the business without any interference." [Reuters]