Donatella Versace, 69, is letting go of her role as creative director of the fashion powerhouse almost three decades after the murder of her brother and founder, Gianni, in 1997. In an Instagram post Thursday, Donatella paid tribute to her sibling, saying that she hoped she managed to carry on his legacy. In short, the Versace name is leaving Versace for the first time, although Donatella will have another role as the brand’s chief ambassador. The company will now be under the creative control of Dario Vitale, 41, who has spent time at big-names like Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu. Donatella, 69, wrote that she was “excited to see Versace through new eyes.” The news breaks as rumors have been popping up around about a possible sale of the brand, with Prada having an upper-hand in the bidding, according to The New York Times. “In my new role as Chief Brand Ambassador, I will remain Versace’s most passionate supporter. Versace is in my DNA and always in my heart,” she concluded her post.
