Versace Just Served Up a Jaw-Dropping New Take on Head-to-Toe Animal Print
Yesterday, Donatella Versace debuted her Fall 2019 menswear collection in Milan. While it was the first show under the new ownership of Michael Kors Holdings Limited, the beauty lineup remained signature va-va-voom Versace. On the men’s front, models with blunt bowl cuts or closely-cropped buzzcuts continued the Italian label’s signature edge, while accompanying women’s looks saw supers such as Bella Hadid rock the ultra-sleek high ponytail. The above-neck creations belonged to legendary hairstylist Guido Palau, with makeup direction by the equally-iconic Pat McGrath.
There was one particular look of Palau’s that could not be missed, though. Halfway through the show, clad in a leopard-printed fur, which clashed against striped trousers and a blue-and-white printed button-up, model João Knorr’s graphic ensemble was taken to the next level with a matching animal-print dye job. Backstage, Knorr’s bleached buzz got artfully spray-painted with brown and black spots—making for an end result that read sophisticated club kid. “The hair-coat match was everything,” Versace wrote on her Instagram, posting a shot with Knorr.
This isn’t the first time in fashion that wild hair has matched equally eclectic separates. In fact, a major leopard print moment happened back in 1995: Shortly after the Versace show, stylist Katie England instagrammed an archival shot of a photo shoot she worked on with makeup artist Val Garland, showcasing a model’s buzz with painted spots that was practically identical to Versace’s. And these days, celebrities such as Lady Gaga are also known to color-match their lengths to their ensemble—the star did it just last week at the Golden Globes, her frosty topper mirroring her billowing, pastel blue gown. And while Gaga’s iteration has already faded into a sleek silver, there is something about animal-print that has staying power. Of course, only time will tell.
