“This Has to Be an Epic Show”—Donatella Versace Takes Vogue Backstage in LA

I want people to take away from my show,

that was a confident woman.

That was a confident man.

I want to be like that.

[inspiring music]

Hi Vogue.

I'm Donatella Versace.

I'm in Los Angeles

getting ready for my next fashion show.

Please come and spend the next few days with me.

I want to do a show in LA

because this city means so much to me

and I have so many memories here.

We are at the LGBT Center in Los Angeles

to launch the scholarship we have prepared with CFDA

for the students to work in fashion.

It's good to see people with that excitement

who love fashion so much.

[audience cheering and applauding]

For me, it's very important to help new generation,

a young generation,

who we want to work in fashion.

And give them the tools in order for them to do it.

So I was happy to talk to them.

They were happy to see me.

It was a really good day for me.

The young people around me

were giving me more energy.

They push me to innovate more.

In order to show them,

Look, you can do this. You can reach this,

but you have to work hard.

Bye. Bye.

This has to be an epic show.

This is what I hope I will do.

[intense piano music]

Doing this collection,

I was inspired by the actor and actress

on that carpet for many, many years.

How we dress in the past and now in the present.

I think the two, film and fashion,

go together very strongly.

My team was always McGrath and Guido Palau,

do the hair and makeup for many, many years.

So it's a very Versace look.

It's very rich, modern,

graphic,

lots of fun.

It's Versace, but we're in Hollywood, right?

Exciting.

The inspiration is always Donatella.

It's always like her idea of like

this strong, positive, beautiful people.

Do you know what I mean? So, it always comes from that.

[Donatella] We all want the same thing,

a woman to look sensual, strong, and powerful.

When a woman walks into a room with high heels,

she presents herself like a strong, powerful woman.

[tense violin music]

I remember my brother, Gianni, saying

when we come to Hollywood to dress the star,

the star makes the dress,

but the dress makes the star as well.

There is a strength and a creativity

which is important for both of us.

I think that Donatella

has made so many people in Hollywood

feel amazing on the red carpet

and given them so many moments,

and so I think tonight

should be a night where they all come,

pay respects to her,

and sit down and watch her show.

That's what I'm here for.

[Organizer] Everybody on their numbers, please.

[room buzzing with conversation]

[Donatella] The last two hours before a show

are the most important

because here's the chance to

look at everything and make it perfect.

And you have the models there,

the hair and makeup,

and everything comes together suddenly.

[intense music]

[crowd cheering]

Thank you!

[crowd continues cheering]

Goodbye, Vogue.

Ciao!

[light piano music]