Versace, Beyoncé, and 1,100 hours of couture magic

When Beyoncé steps onto a stage, it’s more than a concert — it’s a cultural event. And for her global Cowboy Carter Tour, every detail has been curated to reflect a bold, genre-bending vision of modern Americana. That includes her show stopping wardrobe, which features a rare, deeply personal collaboration with Italian fashion icon Donatella Versace. The two custom looks Versace designed for Beyoncé’s London performances took a staggering 1,100 hours to bring to life. But for Donatella, who recently stepped down as creative director of her namesake house, the experience was worth every moment — not only for the craftsmanship involved but for the chance to see her designs take flight on stage with one of the most celebrated performers of our time.

Chaps, fringe, and full Western fantasy

The first of the two custom creations debuted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London: a striking, Western-inspired ensemble complete with chaps, a crystal-encrusted bodysuit, and layers of hand-sewn white fringe. It was bold, sexy, and unmistakably Beyoncé, combining classic Americana with Versace’s signature high-glam aesthetic.

“The fringe was all hand-cut, and every element of the look was handcrafted,” Donatella tells PEOPLE. “It was designed to move — and it moved beautifully with Beyoncé.” This wasn’t just fashion for fashion’s sake. The outfit amplified the visual storytelling of the Cowboy Carter era, aligning with the tour’s broader themes of self-definition, reinvention, and homage to Black roots in American music. Beyoncé didn’t just wear the look; she animated it, bringing to life its full texture and drama under the lights of the stadium.

A barocco ball gown with roots in legacy

While the Western ensemble dazzled, Donatella’s personal favorite was the second look: a quilted barocco-print ball gown featuring a corseted waist and oversized skirt — a silhouette first imagined by her brother, Gianni Versace, in the 1990s. “Gianni started this silhouette with the very fitted corset and oversized skirt with a touch of cowboy,” she reflects. “So this look wasn’t just couture; it was emotional. It was a tribute to him and to the house’s legacy.”

Beyoncé had first spotted a version of the gown during Versace’s Fall 2025 collection show in Milan. But true to her collaborative spirit, she made the look her own, accessorizing it with crystal-embroidered boots, Medusa chain necklaces, and a wide-brimmed cowboy hat — giving the regal ensemble a distinctly Texan swagger.

Beyoncé, the creative force behind the curtain

While the gowns themselves made headlines, Donatella is quick to point out that Beyoncé was more than a muse — she was an active creative force in the process. “She is an artist in the truest sense,” Donatella says. “She and her team were deeply involved in conceptualizing the outfits. Every detail was intentional — every accessory, every fabric choice, every silhouette.”

This level of collaboration resulted in costumes that weren’t just visually stunning, but performance-ready. They moved with Beyoncé, responded to the rhythm of the show, and contributed to the full sensory experience that fans around the world have come to expect from her tours.

Donatella even had the chance to witness the magic firsthand. “She very kindly invited me backstage to see her just before she went on stage,” she recalls. “She is one of the most beautiful women in the world, and it took my breath away when I saw her. When you see Beyoncé bring a look to life on stage, that gives me the greatest pleasure.”

A meeting of icons, on and off the runway

This collaboration marks a significant moment not just for rhode, but for Donatella herself, who earlier this year announced she would be stepping down as Versace’s creative director after more than three decades. In March, she shared the news via Instagram, revealing that she would transition into a global ambassador role for the brand. “Championing the next generation of designers has always been important to me,” she wrote in the post. “I am thrilled that Dario Vitale will be joining us and excited to see Versace through new eyes.”

It’s a moment of passing the torch — but not without one last creative triumph. “To have Beyoncé wearing one of the last major couture pieces I designed in my role as creative director… it means so much,” she tells PEOPLE. “It feels like a beautiful full-circle moment.” Beyond the fashion, Donatella says she was humbled by Beyoncé’s generosity and spirit. “She’s a goddess, one of the nicest people on the planet, and a true superstar. When she said she wanted every fan to feel like they had a front-row seat, I was moved — because that’s exactly how I feel when we do a Versace show, too.”

From the catwalk to the concert stage

It’s rare to see high fashion and pop music intersect so seamlessly, but the collaboration between Beyoncé and Versace proves what’s possible when two creative powerhouses work in harmony. These weren’t just costumes; they were couture narratives, crafted with care and purpose to amplify the themes of the Cowboy Carter tour.

And for Donatella, the joy came not just from the hours of painstaking work, but from watching her designs come alive — not in a quiet atelier or at a hushed fashion show, but on a massive stage in front of tens of thousands of fans. “When you design something for the catwalk, it is one thing,” she says. “But when you see Beyoncé bring a look to life and make it move so incredibly on the stage, that is the greatest reward.”