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Not-at-Alla Donatella?

January 25, 2009 by WendyB

When this Dolce & Gabbana ad came out last year, I had the same thought that a lot of people had: “Oh, my! Is that very tan, very blonde lady fashion designer Donatella Versace?”

Click to enlarge

My next thought was, “It wouldn’t make much sense for Donatella to be in another designer’s ad. After all, I’m not going to pose for jewelry designer David Yurman, even if he begs me.” If I had been working for People.com (as I did way back in 1999) I would have called D&G immediately to find out what was going on, but y’all aren’t paying me enough to do extra research for you. Yeah, yeah. You keep saying the check’s in the mail. I’m sick of your lies.

Anyway, I thought of the Dolce ad again in December, everyone went nuts in a bad way over pictures of “Donatella” in a bikini. A Donatella who, to me, looked a lot like what I thought of as Dolce’s pseudo-Donatella.

I kept waiting for a correction about those December photos that never came … until now, it seems. JustJared is warning readers that both new photos and the December ones are of a pseudo-Donatella. Meanwhile, X17online updated a December post to say that Versace’s lawyers stated that X17’s pictures were of pseudo-Donatella. So for now, I’m going to allow myself to feel smug while I wait for someone with authority to clear up this mystery once and for all. That means I get to feel smug forever, because there IS no authority in the blogosphere — probably because no one feels s/he’s being paid enough to pick up the damn phone and confirm anything. Yeah, yeah. I’ll go wait by my mailbox for that check.

If you have any new information about the Donatellas, feel free to leave it in the comments. If you want to talk trash about the bodies of any Donatella, go elsewhere to do it unless you’re (a) screwing her and have a personal interest in the matter or (b) willing to share a bathing-suit picture of yourself on this blog to even the field. If (a) doesn’t apply and (b) isn’t happening, (c) let the woman enjoy her beach time in peace.

UPDATED TO ADD: After I posted this, this blog updated its information to reflect that its pictures probably were NOT of Donatella. It only took a couple of months!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dooder City says

    January 25, 2009 at 12:43 am

    I keep reading in the tabloids about the poor daughter being such a stick! I want to give her a cupcake and let her be happy and free!

  2. pretty face says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:26 am

    This is practically confirmation of the doppelganger theory! x

  3. Hammie says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:32 am

    NO bathing suit photos of me forthcoming so I will stay schtum.
    Really clever ad by D&G. I got a Claudia look alike and the old wan from Something About Mary out of it too. (Do the Farrelly Brothers have Fashion lawyers writing to D&G?)
    xx

  4. 3 Column Grid says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:41 am

    I dunno: the connection between real Donatella and D&G Donatella feels fairly loose. Other than the fact that she is "of a certain age": aka, who cares.

    The december pic is fine, other than the rock-hard fake tits, which are sort of gross. But that's her M.O., right?

  5. Sharon Rose says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:44 am

    Hi there-a great post, although I won’t be submitting any photos of me in a bathing suit any time soon,LOL!

  6. Skye says

    January 25, 2009 at 2:19 am

    Well spotted WendyB!

    Of course the resemblance is nowhere as similar as that between Donatella and her other doppelganger – Janice from the Muppets!

  7. coco says

    January 25, 2009 at 4:30 am

    Both of them look like this woman that is on this exercise video my mum has had since the 80’s – maybe it’s actually her?

  8. Dale says

    January 25, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Donatella & Gabbana just doesn't have the same ring to it.

  9. Little Lj says

    January 25, 2009 at 5:49 am

    Someone (not me, I’m broke-ass!) really should pay you for this! You have skills WendyB!!!

  10. KT says

    January 25, 2009 at 6:56 am

    OK, obviously I could be wrong here but to me the "lady" in the D&G ad appears to have what looks like a package. And not of the Christmas variety. Or the worlds most unusual camel toe. All I know is my eyes hurt1

  11. Thumbelina Fashionista says

    January 25, 2009 at 7:49 am

    Wow. That woman is TAN.

    (That’s mild enough, eh?)

  12. enc says

    January 25, 2009 at 8:13 am

    It’d be nice to know if it was Donatella, but I see why you’re not going to much trouble to check and see. You gotta get p.a.i.d.

  13. WendyB says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:13 am

    Dooder, I don’t know what Gianni was thinking when he made that poor girl his heir, but he didn’t do her any favors. I think all her misery came from that.

    PF, first me and Veatrice, now this, right?

    Hammie, that is Claudia!

    3 Column Grid, yeah, I guess that’s her look.

    Sharon Rose, if you change your mind, let me know.

    Skye, I would never be able to tell the difference between Donatella and Janice. We’d have to ask Animal.

    Coco, your mom still has an ’80s exercise video?!?

    Dale, actually, I like that. If the companies merge, that’s what they can call it.

    Little LJ, I was really tempted to make the call, but saying I was calling from “Wendy Brandes Jewelry” was unlikely to get swift action.

    KT, she doesn’t have Coco’s elegant toe, that’s for sure.

    Thumbelina, you pass.

    Enc, where’s my money, as Stewie would say? Don’t make a fool of me, man!

  14. KD says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:13 am

    I always love D&G ads. I love the beach. That is all I have to say.

  15. Jill says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:48 am

    I’ve read that Donnatella’s swarthy twin is a regular on that beach. Everyone who lives there knows it isn’t the big D, but the tabloids keep printing that shit, cuz people keep buying it.

  16. WendyB says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:55 am

    People are fucking stupid, Jill.

  17. Nina (femme rationale) says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:59 am

    omg, donatella or not being that thin and that tan can’t be all that healthy.

  18. Make Do Style says

    January 25, 2009 at 10:09 am

    I’m not sure whats worse teh real of fake bake Donatella.
    Lovin’ the only working for the money ethos!

  19. K.Line says

    January 25, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    You are my forensic specialist WendyB. It's all that Law & Order! And I was so shocked by that D&G photo (not that I thought it was Donnatella – never made that connection). Ooooh.

  20. Dr Zibbs says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    uhh….uhhh….I got nothin’.

  21. Bobble Bee says

    January 25, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    Honestly, i LOVE these women 🙂
    with guts and no complexes

  22. Savvy Mode SG says

    January 25, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    great post wendy…

  23. Imelda says

    January 25, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    That last picture is horrible, Donatella or not!

  24. Duchesse says

    January 25, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Made you look, didn’t they?

  25. WendyB says

    January 25, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    Duchesse, it’s all about the doubletake.

  26. This Lady says

    January 25, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    Its funny how in the second pic, Fake-atella slathered sunscreen all over and around her lips! Hello? The rest of your body please??

    She looks like a baked turkey. Albeit, not a delicious one.

  27. Raven says

    January 25, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    When I first saw that picture (the second one), I didn’t think it was Donatella. I thought the face looked more like Joan Van Ark.

  28. Danz says

    January 25, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    I could do without seeing photos of either of them actually, bikini-clad or not.

  29. AsianCajuns says

    January 25, 2009 at 7:28 pm

    Whether or not it’s Donatella, that woman’s boob job is the worst I’ve ever seen! The anorexia and skin cancer must be a bummer, but I’m sure those fake boobs are the most uncomfortable things ever!

  30. ebayfashionaddict says

    January 25, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    all I know is that they need some sunscreen and way more calories

  31. Fifi Flowers says

    January 25, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    Thanks for updates!

  32. daddylikeyblog says

    January 26, 2009 at 5:17 am

    Just wondering–what’s your usual rate for celebrity verification?

  33. Jill says

    January 26, 2009 at 9:22 am

    I totally agree.

  34. -h of candid cool says

    January 26, 2009 at 10:19 am

    i think we all have our twin out there.

  35. Miss Woo says

    January 26, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Either way, that’s one scary tan.

  36. TheSundayBest says

    January 26, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Ah my freakin eyes!

  37. Practically Perfect In Every Way says

    January 26, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    there is nothing like a little donatella to realize ….
    i
    miss
    coco!

    more coco, less dVer
    pls

  38. jewelrywhore says

    January 26, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    Have you seen her TOPLESS PHOTO?? I am not going to post the link because I don’t want to be responsible for people regurgitating on their keyboards. It’s the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a while. Ok, maybe my whole life. *Shudder*

  39. LJ says

    January 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    fucking hell. I’m glad that’s not her.

    xx-LJ from SOS!

  40. Grant Miller says

    January 28, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Looking good whoever it is.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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