Versace debuts unreleased Prince tracks

Donatella Versace incorporated unreleased tracks from the singer in the brand's Spring 2017 show

Guests were in for a pleasant surprise—and unexpectedly rich sentiments—when attending Versace’s Menswear Spring 2017 show in Milan, as models paced down a shady, sharp-edged catwalk to the beat of never-before-heard-before Prince tracks.

Italian designer Donatella Versace was a close friend to Prince, recently revealing that the artist was in the habit of regularly sending her original music, even noting that the star was sending her material just days before news of his tragic death this year. Speaking of the show’s newly released features, she explained: ”It was a privilege and an honor to have Prince as my friend, and so it was my privilege to be able to share them with the audience… I wanted people to hear how playful he was, how joyous, how creative, how pure a genius. The biggest tribute you can pay to him is to play his music, and to keep his memory alive.” The sequence of unheard tracks included a funky mix of “Kiss,” along with the novelly-entitled “Versace,” where Prince is heard chanting “Clap your hands for Donatella. Come on, it’s alright.”

The icon’s influence wasn’t solely limited to the show’s audio, though. Amidst a wash of smart black blazers and anoraks, Versace included accents of Prince’s signature style—deep purples and ruffled edging.  Looks were polished off with smart patent shoes and slouchy clutches.  The designer even embodied the tribute on a directly personal level, turning up to the show in a purple ensemble.

Watch the full Versace Menswear Spring 2017 show below.