MILAN, Italy - Naomi Campbell, Jessica Alba and Claudia Schiffer were among the celebrities who attended a ballet at La Scala in memory of Gianni Versace, who was murdered 10 years ago.
"Thank you, Gianni, With Love," performed Sunday night, was the highlight of a series of events marking the anniversary of the Italian designer's death. He was gunned down outside his Miami Beach, Fla., mansion on July 15, 1997, by Andrew Cunanan, who killed himself a few days later.
Versace's sexy and daring clothes made him a favourite among rockers, Hollywood stars and other celebrities.
Maurice Bejart, who enjoyed a long professional collaboration and close friendship with Versace, wrote the ballet. It featured stage costumes designed by Versace over the years, as well as those created for the performance by his sister, Donatella Versace.
Donatella Versace, who attended the ballet with her daughter, Allegra Beck Versace, took over design at the fashion house after her brother's death.
Celebrities attending the red-carpet event also included Rupert Everett, Karl Lagerfeld and Claude Lelouch.
Other events commemorating Versace's death include an exhibit of his sketches and theatre costumes installed on Milan streets and the establishment of a scholarship in his honour at the European Institute of Design in Milan.
