No One Throws a Party Like Donatella

When I walked into the entranceway of a Bel Air mansion perched high above the city, I saw journalist Zanna Roberts Rassi getting settled (after the winding golf-cart ride up from the bottom of the hill) and actress January Jones walking in with her sister, both smiling, soon after. Then I saw actor Channing Tatum weaving through the room shaking hands and taking pictures, athlete Odell Beckham Jr. staying warm by the outdoor fire, and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph holding court close to where producer Clara McGregor chatted with friends. Only one person could have brought together this mosaic of people … and that’s Donatella Versace.

“Versace Icons,” as conceived by Donatella, is an event series that brings together friends of the brand to showcase its aesthetic and values and have some fun. Grammy winner Coco Jones performed a three-song set on the estate’s sweeping balcony; in a twist of cosmic fate, her rendition of SWV’s 1998 song “Rain” had the perfect backdrop of a stormy post-rain sky, clear enough to see a view of the city and quiet enough to hear her soulful vocals penetrate the air.

This was the third installment of a string of Versace Icons events (hosted in collaboration with Alison Loehnis and Net-a-Porter), which included dinners in New York and Shanghai co-hosted by Donatella Versace and womenswear-collection campaign stars Anne Hathaway and Chris Lee, respectively.

We asked attendees — who were exclusively photographed in a sleek corner of the party — a question related to their inner lives and careers. The night’s eponymous icon, Versace herself, spoke about how the industry has changed for the better and her pride about the number of women in leadership positions at Versace.