TODAY DONATELLA VERSACE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE VERSACE GROUP. SHE INHERITED THE ROLE OF CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY IN 1997 AFTER HER BROTHER'S DEATH AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN THE DNA OF THE COMPANY AND EVOLVED IT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. "THE VERSACE COLLECTION THAT WAS ON THE RUNWAY THURSDAY NIGHT COMBINED THE SLIPPERY SEXINESS THAT DEFINED THE LABEL UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LATE GIANNI VERSACE WITH THE MORE STREAMLINED SUPER-WOMAN FEMININITY THAT DONATELLA VERSACE HAS BROUGHT TO IT." THE WASHINGTON POST