The Versace attitude triumphed last night at Atelier Versace’s couture fall ’14 show. Lean models glided down the runway in tailored skirts slit so high, you almost wondered how it was all being held together. A celebration of “reconstruction and deconstruction” was Donatella Versace’s keynotes and, in true style, the fashion houses’ assets were brought to the table.

The designer toyed with the illusion that something had been cut off. One-sided round-shouldered jackets and a long slashed front dress with one leg covered were among the strongest pieces in this collection. Structured shapes and sharp tailoring allowed models to move with confidence and strength. Not to mention, a notable feature throughout the collection, the gold buckle, which rendered the looks tougher.

Modernizing couture was also evident in this collection. Versace transformed the simple t-shirt from its ‘everyday’ cult status to ‘evening glamor chic.’  By adding crystals and draping into an hourglass evening dress, something so simple was rendered couture worthy.

The show stopping look of the evening was, without doubt, a voluminous soft pink duchesse silk ball gown coated with black silicon and gold-buckled corsetry. Buckled to a black sequined body suit, this dress had everything you need to leave an impact.

This piece highlighted Donatella’s approach to making couture more accessible to a younger audience. By incorporating trending elements like the bodysuit into a couture gown, Donatella’s speaks to a growing generation that wants couture to be a reflection of the moment and not a nostalgic recollection of the past. For Versace, couture is today and this collection confirms its ability to make it so.