By Milly Edgerley

After an eight year hiatus from couture, Donatella made a welcome comeback with Versace’s Spring Couture collection and with her came a resurgence of the power woman, the glamazon, or as Donatella put it herself “warrior women”.

The collection re-defines femininity, favouring constructed gowns over the more whimsical organza offerings that have been popular for spring/summer.

Silhouettes were moulded to emphasise the female form, with gold metal inserts adding inches to hips and shoulders whilst sheer and lace panelling injected allure into the gowns that favoured a more demure palette.

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An array of thigh-skimming mini-dresses continued the structured feel in an assortment of eye-catching brights that lifted the otherwise fiercely glamorous collection. Amongst the shorter pieces the standout was a bronzed embellished corset-mini that was exquisite in its intricate delicacy.

The shorter pieces showcased the versatility of the collection however it was the silvery siren gowns that really served to exemplify Donatella’s couture credentials.  The overall effect was one of a sinuous sensuality hardened by the angular curves created by Versace’s ingenious engineering.

Standouts of the collection included a green embellished gown with a half-peplum structuring and a fiery gown, anchored at the neck with a half- moon metal insert; both fiercely feminine and unapologetically opulent.

This return to couture makes one thing exceedingly clear: Donatella understands how to design for the contemporary women, whether on the runway, red carpet or on the high street in her Versace for H&M range.