A Retrospective of the Fashion Icon’s Most Iconic Creations

The world of fashion has lost count of the numerous designers who have left an indelible mark on the industry. However, few have had as profound an impact as Gianni Versace, the Italian fashion icon whose eponymous label has been a benchmark of style and sophistication for over four decades. A forthcoming retrospective exhibition at Arches London Bridge in the UK promises to showcase the designer’s most majestic creations, including a stunning collection of silk shirts that have been a staple of his aesthetic.

Among the 450 original garments, accessories, sketches, interviews, and photographs on display will be some of the most iconic pieces from Versace’s illustrious career, including outfits worn by Princess Diana, Sir Elton John, Kate Moss, George Michael, and Naomi Campbell. The exhibition, which runs through March 2026, will be a testament to the designer’s ability to merge fashion and pop culture, making it accessible and glamorous in a way few others have achieved.

One of the standout features of the retrospective is a black wall decorated with the busy silk shirts that have been a hallmark of Versace’s designs. Elton John, a close friend of the designer, was particularly fond of these creations, owning one in every print, as he affectionately described them in a promotional video for auction house Christie’s last year. “They’re just works of art,” he said, highlighting the timeless appeal of Versace’s designs.

The exhibition will also delve into the designer’s relationship with London, a city that had a profound impact on his work. As curator Saskia Lubnow noted, “Gianni Versace was one of the first designers to merge fashion with pop culture. In doing so, he made fashion feel glamorous, accessible, and alive in a way few others had done before.”

The timing of the exhibition is also significant, coming just four months after Donatella Versace, Gianni’s sister and former chief creative officer, announced her departure from the house. The news marks an important new era for the brand, with former Miu Miu design director Dario Vitale taking over as chief creative officer.

For those who had the privilege of working with Versace, his designs were more than just clothes – they were a window into Italian culture, history, and the time period. As Karl von der Ahe, co-curator of the exhibition, noted, “You might think everything is superficial, the bold fashion, but when you work with it, you really understand a lot about Italian culture, Italian history, about the time.”

The exhibition’s focus on the collections from spring-summer 1988 through to fall-winter 1997 will provide a unique insight into the designer’s creative process, showcasing his ability to mix patterns and colors in a way that was both sophisticated and bold. As Lubnow explained, “He had the ability to mix patterns and colors. You never looked like a clown, but actually quite sophisticated, and that’s really an ability he had, and this vision he took from his culture – from his mother and from the tailor shop into street style, putting jeans on the haute couture runway; all these things he meshed together.”

The retrospective promises to be a fitting tribute to the enduring legacy of Gianni Versace, a designer whose impact on the fashion industry will continue to be felt for generations to come.