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Stars shine in Versace glamour
LONDON, England -- Models, singers and stars donned Versace outfits to open an exhibition of the Italian designer's gowns in London's Victoria and Albert Museum on Monday. The exhibition displays about 130 of Gianni Versace's creations in silk, satin, sequins and safety pins, spanning 30 years of his career. The glitzy party marked the opening of the museum's largest ever exhibition to be dedicated to one fashion designer. Instead of a catwalk show, stars from the worlds of pop, film and fashion were invited to don Versace designs at the party. Those dressed in Versace were model Sophie Dahl, model Jodie Kidd and New Zealand model Rachel Hunter. Chelsea Clinton attended, as did Madonna with her young daughter Lourdes. Versace was shot dead outside his Miami home in 1997. His sister Donatella has run his Milan-based empire since his murder. "It makes me very emotional. I remember each of these dresses so well," she said at the opening. "Seeing them again reminds me what a genius my brother was." Dresses worn by Princess Diana, Madonna and British actress Liz Hurley were among 130 outfits displayed against a backdrop of giant colour photographs of some of Versace's best-known celebrity clients. Asked to choose her favourite exhibit, Donatella Versace named the Diana and Madonna gowns -- along with a less well-known black leather dress decorated with a crucifix. "That was one of the last dresses Gianni made before he died," she said. The exhibition featured the dress that catapulted Hurley to fame in 1994, when she wore it to the London premiere of the British film, "Four Weddings and a Funeral." Sleeveless and with a plunging neckline, the black gown is held together down both sides with only a series of giant gold safety pins. Versace's designs for numerous opera and ballet productions are also on display, including costumes for the 1991 production of "Capriccio" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the 1987 production of "Salome" at La Scala Theatre, Milan. The show opens to the public on Thursday and runs until mid-January. Reuters contributed to this report.
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