By Bobbie Thomas
Collaborations have become a way of life in the fashion world, with designers and brands regularly teaming up to create unique pieces at accessible price points. TODAY style editor and Bobbie.com's Bobbie Thomas shares more on one of the most highly anticipated partnerships yet — Versace for H&M.
From Baby Boomers to "Gen X'ers," teens to tweens, few fashion houses are as widely known as the house of Versace. A fixture in fashion industry since the late 70s, the Italian label is famous for bold pieces that burst down the runway and ensembles that push the limits of style, with countless iconic moments under its belt, from Elizabeth Hurley's black safety pin dress in 1994 to Jennifer Lopez's plunging green statement at the Grammys in 2000.
Even beyond haute couture, Gianni, Donatella and the Versace family have been woven into cultural history over the last 3 decades, making their debut at affordable-favorite H&M a symbolic one. Recent reviews have gone so far to say “this may be the best Versace collection to come along in years — more Gianni than Donatella, more South Beach than Milano”.
For die-hard fashion fans, the collection brings a plethora of vibrant prints, statement-making silhouettes and luxe leather accents, with pieces ranging in price from $29.99 to $399. For those dipping their toes into high fashion waters for the first time, there are draped dresses in punchy colors, embellished skirts, shoes, jewelry and more inspired by Versace's most memorable creations.
And last but not least, for that stylish man in your life, you can scoop up sleek suit pieces, edgy shirts and playful studded pants starting this Saturday, Nov. 19. The collection will hit approximately 300 stores worldwide, but unfortunately it will not be available online in the US. Be ready, stores will open early (8:00 a.m.), and be warned, strict shopping rules will be enforced. Clothing was cleared from racks in minutes at the VIP pre-shopping event last week in New York City! But remember Donatella’s own advice: “Fashion is all about happiness. It's fun. It's important. But it's not medicine”.