Michael Kors to buy Versace for over $2 billion

After acquiring luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo in 2017, global fashion house Michael Kors will be buying the Italian legendary brand established by Gianni Versace, in a deal worth more than $2 billion (€1.83 billion). Donatella Versace, Gianni's sister and the brand's creative driver, said the takeover was "essential to Versace's long-term success."

Whereas Gianni Versace's fashion in the 1980s was a combination of elegant and conservative, he tried out new styles in the 90s. He brought color into his collections unlike anyone else, letting his creations explode with brightness. As the picture above shows, he didn't shy away from strongly contrasting colors. His focus on colors even become his trademark.

Versace also stands for the liberation of men's fashion. In the early 90s he began to create his famous shirts, which were shown in at the Berlin retrospective in early 2018. Before Versace, the tones used in men's fashion had been much more muted. He let colors explode, and some people would even go so far as to say he liberated men. In the foreground a shirt from Versace's Miami series.

Versace was a close friend of Princess Diana. A particularly lasting testimony to their close ties is the picture of Lady Di and Elton John, both steeped in sadness as they sit next to one another during the memorial service for Versace. Some of Versace's most beautiful creations are the dresses he designed for Diana, such as this simple red dress above.

Hardly any other designer was as versatile as Versace. Over and over again, he succeeded in surprising the fashion world. In the fall of 1992, he presented his bondage collection that introduced topics like fetishes and sexuality into fashion in new ways. Plenty of leather, metal applications, necklaces and bracelets made an unmistakable statement. This dress was worn by Naomi Campbell.

Versace is known not only for his clothing designs but also for creating all kinds of extraordinary accessories, ranging from vintage brooches and the so-called Medusa Necklace to plaited leather bracelets. The pictured necklace is particularly unusual and exudes a feeling of coldness. It makes an unmistakable statement when worn.

Versace's colorful scarves and shawls are also famous and highly coveted. They reflect the glamorous style of the Italian fashion designer. Pictured above is a shawl in the typical Versace red with a contrasting pattern in bright gold.

Versace's preference for working for the rich and famous is no secret. He was also friends with many of them. The tailcoat he designed for the wedding of the musician Sting, also a personal friend, became legend in the world of men's fashion. The piece shows how Versace freely used form and material to redefine clothing styles for men.

Gianni Versace broke a centuries-old rule with his fashion shows. The best seats weren't reserved for the wealthiest customers but for celebrities, many of whom were his friends such as Madonna, Sting and Elton John. Versace designed outfits for some of their musical tours. He also created special personal items for them, like this watch for Elton John.

Gianni Versace with models Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell on the left. The designer, considered to be the creator of the 90s supermodel era, was the victim of a bizarre slaying in 1997 by a luxury-obsessed male prostitute. When Versace's sister organized a show in Milan on the 20th anniversary of his death, many models joined the event.