SUPER BOWL LI

Super Bowl 2017: Donatella Versace Was the Real Winner of the Night

Sorry, Tom Brady, but it’s true.

by Lauren McCarthy

Donatella Versace
Photograph by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, Styled by Edward Enninful; Hair by Kiril Vasilev; makeup by Renato Bernardi; manicure by Adam Slee for Rimmel London at Streeters. Set design by Andrea Stanley and Emma Roach at Streeters. Produced by Across Media Productions; Fashion Assistants Ryann Foulke, Dena Gianni; Hair assistants: Taichi Saito, Sean Mikael, Rebekah Calo, Katie Schember, Cat Wyman, James Oxley; Makeup Assistants: Taylor Treadwell, Lauren Aiello, Anete Salinieka, Sergio Alvarez; Manicure assistant: Chiharu; Set-design assistants: Devin Rutz, Colin Lytton, Nathan Smith, Chloe Park, Amy Bairstow, Philip Doucedame, Warwick Turner-Noakes.

The New England Patriots may have had a major comeback in the second half to take home the Vince Lombardi trophy, but it was Donatella Versace–one of fashion’s favorite women and W‘s March issue cover star–who was true winner of Sunday’s big game.

Versace kicked off her whirlwind day in Texas, posting an Instagram video of herself on a private jet, pre-takeoff, writing in the caption, “Hi guys! I’m leaving for Houston for the #Superbowl. The atmosphere is electrifying because my dar friend @ladygaga will be performing. She’s going to be fierce. Wait and see! Follow me live on my #instastories! #SB51”

Upon landing in Houston, the designer changed out of her plane attire–which, when you are Donatella Versace apparently consists of a pair of sporty track pants and a massive ruby ring–and into a sleeveless purple cocktail dress with a strategic stomach cutout to take in the big game. No Patriots jersey here.

Of course, the reason for Versace’s trip not just to check out Tom Brady in the flesh, but to outfit her bestie Gaga for the singer’s highly anticipated halftime performance. The singer opened her 13-minute spectacle in a custom fully beaded iridescent jumpsuit with sculptural shoulder detail paired with fully embroidered boots, both covered in Swarovski crystals. Mid-performance, the look was topped off with a gold cropped jacket with spiked shoulders, also covered in Swarovski crystals, and a keytar, for good measure. Gaga closed the show with Versace’s homage to the sport, a custom pair of hot-pants and cropped sculptural white jacket with metallic hardware.

Versace previously outfitted Gaga on her Born This Way tour in 2013, and the following year tapped the singer to star in the house’s spring campaign, which starred Gaga dressed in the likeness of Donatella herself, long blonde hair and all.

Before her pal took the stage, Versace popped backstage to give her well wishes and pose of an impromptu Instagram photo shoot, of course. The designer later posted a shot of the performance, writing, “@ladygaga your performance was simply breathtaking.”

Versace will show her fall collection in just a few weeks during Milan Fashion Week, and if her sports-filled 24 hours in Texas is any indication, Versace-branded football jerseys may soon be a reality. See all of the designer’s Insa-fun from the Super Bowl below.

The Evolution of Donatella Versace’s Powerful and Bold Personal Style

Donatella Versace and Paul Beck at a dinner party honoring Richard Avedon, September 27th, 1993

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Donatella Versace and Gianni Versace at the Costume Institute Gala, 1995

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Matt Dillon and Donatella Versace at the Costume Institute Gala, 1999

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Versace at the VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards, 2000

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Versace at a fashion show and gala at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire.

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Versace at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, March 24th, 2002

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Versace at the Giorgio Armani Retrospective Cocktail Party, October 14th, 2003

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Versace at the Fashion Rocks For Princes Trust, October 16th, 2003

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Versace at the Women’s World Awards.

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Versace at the Whitney Museum Gala, October 19th, 2009

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Versace at the 20th Annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards, November 8th, 2010

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At the Versace for H&M Launch, November 17th, 2011

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At the Palazzo Versace with Lady Gaga, October 1st, 2012

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At the Versace Runway: Paris Fashion Week Haute-Couture FW 2013-2014, June 30th, 2013

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Versace at the Costume Institute Gala, May 5th, 2014

George Pimentel

Versace at the Costume Institute Benefit Gala, May 4th, 2015

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Versace at the Amfar Paris Dinner, July 3rd, 2016

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At the Versus Versace Runway at London Fashion Week Spring 2017, September 17th, 2016

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With Gigi Had at the Fashion Awards 2016, December 5th, 2016

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