Few names are as recognizable as Versace, as not only has the family dominated the fashion industry, but it’s also been at the center of some high profile scandals (and murders). And while the Versace brand will always pack some sort of punch, it might not be worth investing your money in if you want to buy luxury. As it happens, the high-end profile of the brand has gone downhill in recent years, its exclusive feel taking a turn in 2011. As noted by PopSugar, things started to go a bit south for Versace when its collection with H&M came out. While we love accessibility, an allure of buying designer is the special, occasional aspect that comes with it. Being able to buy “Versace” at an everyday mall store like H&M definitely tampered the allure, despite Donatella Versace claiming it mirrored the brand’s essence.
“For the collaboration we’ve brought back from the archives, as well as from more recent collections, some of the icons of Versace, such as the bright prints, the Greek key, and daring cuts,” she said.
If the H&M collection wasn’t a sign that the brand was losing steam on the luxury front, Versace had yet another nail put in its coffin when it was bought by Michael Kors. As noted by Vogue, it was acquired for $2.12 billion, but any revitalization was slim. Even Business Insider has asserted that Michael Kors “has lost its luster” — so if you’re shopping designer, look elsewhere.