Here is a fashion fact, ‘Versace will design for H&M this year and the collection will hit stores in November 2011’. H&M has been very clever by collaborating with some high end designers like Lanvin (which sold out immediately!) Viktor & Rolf, Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney and Comme Des Garcons.It actually came as a surprise that Donatella Versace agreed to do a collaboration with H&M, because earlier in 2008, when they had originally approached them she declined. As quoted in New York Magazine she said “I respect everyone who does it. But the reason I didn’t do it is because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand”. This collection will be and ‘Iconic Collection’ as compared to what most in the industry call a diffusion line.
Call it what you want, this bit of news has made my entire week and possibly will keep me going till.. I get my hands on some Versace for H&M. Find a long lost (now found) friend who lives in a city with an H&M store because you’re going to need to get a piece from this collection. Donatella Versace has re-visited the archives (what I would give to access those) to get inspiration and created 40 pieces (women) and 20 pieces (sorry men) plus accessories. Giving us just a taste of what is to come, Donatella wore one piece from the collection a gorgeous gold studded leather dress for her recent Menswear collection.
To give you an idea of how big this is going to be, let me tell you about my designer experience with H&M. I was fortunate enough to be in Milan (where they have an H&M) when Victor & Rolf collaborated with them, this was back in 2006. I waited in line for about 2 hours (not too long). When the doors were open it was a frenzy of legs and arms grabbing anything they could find! I fought the fight and won with an Victor & Rolf for H&M dress. I still have my gorgeous electric blue star print net dress, and it’s still fashionable even when I wear it today.