VERSACE’S FW26 CAMPAIGN LOOKS GOOD IN LIMBO

words by ANOUK WOUDT

With a recent departure from Dario Vitale and Pieter Mulier’s incumbent tenure yet to come, Versace’s Fall/Winter 26 campaign finds the brand at its most transitional period yet. With no creative director at its helm, this collection calls upon its previous leaders for direction, homaging Gianni and Donatella’s legacy. As the second chapter of their Versace Obsessed campaign series, it references archival magazines and an undeniably Versace push-and-pull of grit and glamour.

For the first time in Versace history, the brand released a leaderless collection. While Dario Vitale was quick to assume the role of creative director after Donatella’s stepping down, he was only able to present one singular collection before exiting the brand. Though the show was overwhelmingly met with praise, it was not enough to maintain his position at the house. 

But after Prada’s acquisition of the brand last December, Vitale’s run was cut short. They announced shortly after that former head of Alaïa Pieter Mulier would be taking the reins starting from July 1st. Though his tenure has started, he will not debut a collection until  February 2027, leaving Versace in a liminal state until the next season rolls around.

This limbo collection was Versace Fall/Winter 26. Today, the campaign dropped, marking the second coming of Versace Obsessed Chapter I campaign which represented Vitale’s one and only Versace SS26. Also photographed by Steven Meisel, the campaign captures a similar vibe as the previous SS26 campaign. Shot from above, the campaign portrays models swaddled in pieces of Versace history, particularly with archival magazines spannin from the 90s up until the early 2000s. 

It’s an ode to the Versace family lineage, much alike the FW26 collection itself, featuring rare volumes of Vanitas that explore the origins of Gianni Versace’s uncompromisingly opulent world. Unmistakeable motifs drown every surface with the Medusa, Greca, and a daring clash of leather and gold decorating every frame.