Donatella Versace is bringing sexy back for SS19

It seems like only yesterday we were here for the AW18 womenswear shows, but the Dazed fashion team is back in Milan ready to find out what SS19 has in store for us. Tonight sees Donatella Versace present her latest collection at the city’s extravagant Versace Palazzo, with its orchid-covered ceiling and polished marble floors. Here’s everything you need to know.

THERE WAS A VERSACE NEWSPAPER PRINT

...was the message posted to the Italian label’s IG stories this afternoon, and exactly what the brand was referring to was made clear when one of the first models took to the runway wearing a sheer shirt layered on top of a t-shirt – printed with what looked like a tabloid newspaper emblazoned with the Versace logo: a comment on celebrity culture, according to the woman herself.

SEXY IS BACK FOR SS19

Where last season saw a riotous line-up of clashing prints, plaids and florals, things were slightly more understated this season (note: ‘slightly’ – this is a Versace show, after all). Oversized tailored jackets were layered over boxy, 90s-style bowling shirts and paired with baggy denim jeans, while red and grey patent snakeskin made up a series of looks incorporating button-down overcoats, western-style waistcoats and short-sleeved shirts. There were also a number of what seemed to be rave-inspired elements: baggy combat trousers teamed with muscle vests and bucket hat sets, finished with neon accents or flashes of a floral that ran throughout the collection, as well as two relaxed suits presented in the brightest highlighter hues imaginable. “The Versace man expresses himself through his clothes without holding back, his movement is always effortlessly powerful, as he pushes every boundary and never lets go of his sense of humour. He’s bringing sexy back,” explained the show notes.

DONATELLA IS STILL TRYING TO GET US TO PRONOUNCE VERSACE RIGHT

Earlier this year, in response to one of  Vogue’s 73 Questions, Donatella lamented she wished people would pronounce the Italian label’s name correctly: “It’s Versa-chay, not Versa-chee”, she explained. To further reiterate her point, the statement made its way on to one of the bags as seen as part of the SS19 collection. We’re sorry, Donatella, we’ll do better.

FAKA SAT FRONT ROW IN FULL VERSACE LOOKS

Queer South African duo FAKA – made up of Fela Gucci and Desire Marea – sat front row, having posted a picture of themselves with Donatella backstage to their IG just minutes before things kicked off. The pair, who have worked with the likes of Mykki Blanco on projects spanning performance art, sound, and photography, provided the soundtrack to the show, and having long proven themselves to be far from adverse to a strong look, wore head-to-toe Versace ensembles (obvs) of clashing plaids, Baroque prints, and the ubiquitous chunky sneakers.

...AND OF COURSE KENDALL AND BELLA WALKED

As with previous menswear shows, it wasn’t just about the boys. Fast becoming Donatella’s go-to girls, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid also made a return to the Versace runway this season, with each wearing a tiny minidress. Kendall’s featured the floral print seen throughout the collection while Bella’s was crafted from vampy black leather, so it wasn’t just the male models bringing sexy back – although given this is Versace we're talking about, did it ever really go away in the first place?