Just two days after the sale of Versace to Prada, the former’s creative director Dario Vitale quits

It’s one of the shortest tenures in recent memory. Dario Vitale leaves Versace 48 hours after the US$1.375 billion sale of Versace to the Prada Group was finalised. The news was first shared by Style Not Com on Instagram some nine hours ago, with less than the typical months of rumours preceding the exit. Mr Vitale joins the brief appointments of the likes of Justin O’Shea at Brioni, Fabien Baron at Calvin Klein, and, perhaps, most famously, Jil Sander at Jil Sander, where she returned after selling her brand to—interestingly, also Prada—only to resign again after a few months due to clashes with Patrizio Bertelli. No reason has been given to Mr Vitale’s departure after eight months into his tenure and one pithy collection.

It is tempting to wonder if Mr Vitale’s departure has anything to do with Donatella Versace, even indirectly. She was conspicuously missing for his debut in September. In fashion, presence at a debut show is more than ceremonial—it’s a tacit endorsement, a signal of continuity, and a reassurance to buyers and, crucially, press that the house’s legacy is being well stewarded. Ms Versace’s absence was read as her quietly distancing herself from a vision she didn’t endorse, or even the creative director. It could have amplified doubts about Mr Vitale’s fit, especially after his undeniably divisive debut. Donatella wasn’t there physically, but her absence haunted the show, and perhaps haunted Mr Vitale’s tenure itself.

Mr Vitale joined Versace in March 2025, becoming the first person outside the Versace family to lead the brand’s creative direction after Donatella Versace stepped down early this year. It is not clear if he is leaving Versace specifically, or the Prada Group as a whole. The official announcements frame his departure as a mutual parting with Versace. But, at the same time, there is no reassignment elsewhere in Prada’s portfolio. This strikes us as rather odd, considering that he had a successful run at Miu Miu. Mr Vitale wasn’t an outsider parachuted in; he had already thrived within Prada Group’s ecosystem. That should have made him a safer bet for Versace. But his Versace did not exactly win over everyone and the lack of consensus is precisely what weakened his position. Dario Vitale’ success at Miu Miu makes his short tenure at Versace feel less like a failure of talent and more like a failure of fit.

Photo: Versace