Drum Kit. Amps. Lights out. Action.  When Versus comes to town, its full octane and full volume and London was the setting for the Spring/Summer collection by Anthony Vaccarello for Versace, with Donatella Versace, the embodiment and inspiration for the energy and spirit of the brand.

Set underground, the roadie gaffer tape led the way to the slick white high gloss runway, punctuated with the pulse of strip lights. The lights dimmed, the strobe lighting flashed, and the Irish rock group The Strypes roared into life, exploding every decibel, as girls and guys stormed onto the runway as if striding into a gig and ready to crowd surf in their uniform of black. This was the goth punk tribe of beautiful people full of attitude and energy, with Donatella Versace sitting front row, sandwiched between Christopher Kane and FKA Twigs, a perfect trio of muses.

Erin Wasson, Jamie Bochert, Lily Donaldson, and Malaika Firth led the roll call of models in sharp black cuts, bomber jackets, studded leather, and “Versus” silver stamped disc belts and shoes. Tuxedo jackets were worn with attitude as dresses, the boys were as pretty as the girls, and slithers of satins, studded medusa heads, and curved button detail punched the spirit of Versus Versace into a new season.  Black on black, leopard print silk scarves that wafted into skirts, asymmetric hemlines, catsuits, and long tunics were worn over trousers, printed denims, and inky black floral prints. Versus mixed attitude and angst in a commercial yet cool assault on the season.