Madonna’s little girl Lourdes turned six on Monday – and what better way for one of the world’s most fashionable mother-daughter pairs to celebrate than a gala Versace opening in London?
The Material Mum joined Donatella Versace and a glamorous A-list line-up of guests – including model Sophie Dahl, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and actress Joely Richardson – to kick off the retrospective of late designer Gianni Versace’s most memorable creations at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
All of the illustrious invitees donned Versace designs, including leggy actress Anna Friel who, along with models Jodie Kidd and Rachel Hunter, chose to wear a spectacular frock from the Italian fashion house’s haute couture collection.
Donatella and her brother Santos were on hand to greet the exclusive guests, who then perused the display of 130 outfits, from the famous Liz Hurley safety-pin gown to a powder blue dress worn by Princess Diana.
Head Versace designer Donatella named gowns worn by Diana and Madonna as her favourites of the exhibition, along with a black leather dress decorated with a crucifix – one of the last creations Gianni designed before his 1997 fatal shooting in Miami.
“It makes me very emotional,” she said of the retrospective. “I remember each of these dresses so well. Seeing them again reminds me what a genius my brother was.”
The event marked the launch of the V&A’s largest ever exhibition dedicated to one fashion designer, and is said to be the most comprehensive collection of original Versace designs ever displayed.
The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday and runs through January 12, 2003.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
