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Donatella Versace: "JLo is my biggest muse"
Quote:
TEXT KATHARINE K. ZARRELLA
BEHIND EVERY GREAT DESIGNER IS AN EVEN GREATER MUSE. DELVE INSIDE FASHION'S MOST FRUITFUL CREATIVE BONDS, AND DISCOVER EIGHT INSPIRING GODDESSES OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Donatella Versace has many muses, her S/S ’15 campaign star Madonna among them. But her creative and personal relationship with Jennifer Lopez is particularly close to her heart. Who could forget when J.Lo donned that daring, skin-baring tropical-print Versace gown to the Grammys in 2000 and the pair made pop history? And you’d be hard-pressed to attend a Versace show without seeing Lopez in the front row. “Donatella is fabulous,” says Lopez. “She honors what makes a woman feminine and sexy. We have been friends and collaborators since my first red carpet fashion moment in 2000. Donatella’s designs and creations define the best of classic Hollywood glamour and iconic rock-and-roll style, and she has upheld and modernized the House of Versace tradition in a way that no one else ever could.” As the designer explains to V, their bond is one for the ages.
How did you and Jennifer first meet?
DONATELLA VERSACE Jennifer and I have been friends for such a long time. We first met around the time she appeared in the movie Selena. She wasn’t so well-known at the time, but I was immediately captivated by her beauty and personality. I invited her to Paris for couture, and she has been part of the Versace family ever since.
What makes Jennifer the ideal Versace woman?
DV Versace is about strength, individuality, and power. It’s also about loving life, making the best of every moment, and being true to who you are. This is how I define Versace, and it’s also how I define Jennifer. She has so much passion, energy, and charisma. She’s also so much fun to be around.
What is the most memorable moment from your and Jennifer’s long friendship?
DV It’s always fun with Jennifer, whatever we’re doing. I remember one time she came to Milan with the twins. It was so lovely to spend family time with her and to see her as such an adorable, sweet mother. She was here for a fitting, and as soon as she went to the other room and put on the gown, she became the glamorous diva. It was two different sides of her character, and she could be both and yet completely true to herself.
What role have muses like Jennifer played throughout the course of your career?
DV Muses have always been a part of the legend of Versace, in many senses. Greek and Roman mythology is part of our DNA, and the impossible beauty and presence of the classical muses is always in the codes of the house. Celebrities are the modern-day muses, and they have been part of Versace from the very beginning. To me, a muse is an ideal—a perfection of beauty, allure, and glamour.
I have to ask about the plunging emerald Versace gown that Jennifer wore to the Grammys in 2000. Did you know when you were creating that gown that it would become such a massive pop culture moment?
DV That was such a special moment, for Jennifer and also for myself. I knew we had created an incredible dress, something that had never been seen before. I wanted to use the Versace print in a new way, revealing so much of her incredible body, yet also draping her like a gown. Jennifer had just had her first smash hits as a pop diva, and she had such an incredible new confidence. She looked so radiant in the dress, like she ruled the world.
What was Jennifer’s reaction to the gown?
DV We both had exactly the same reaction. Neither of us could believe what we’d started, or the mania that it caused. We both laughed so much, because it was so completely unexpected. I was so proud of her, and excited for the success that she deserved so much.
How has your and Jennifer’s relationship evolved over the years?
DV We have been friends from the beginning. She will always be there for me and I’ll always be there for her. It’s simple.
You have featured some of your muses, like Lady Gaga and Madonna, in your campaigns. Would you ever consider putting Jennifer in a campaign?
DV Campaigns are something that happen very naturally—there are no big plans or schemes. If the moment is right, both for Versace and for Jennifer, then of course!
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http://www.vmagazine.com/site/conten...jennifer-lopez
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