Sara Ilyas October 29, 2013

Ten moments from the truly awful House of Versace – in pictures

Sara Ilyas: Gina Gershon starred as Donatella Versace in this salaciously camp, unofficial Versace biopic. Here are our favourite moments

House of Versace: — Nobody can rock a platinum wig and spray tan like Gina Gershon. Except perhaps Maya Rudolph, when she played Donatella in a series of SNL skits. Obviously, it's impossible to totally replicate the face, but between the tan, those pilates arms, and a team of makeup artists, they did a pretty decent job. Accuracy aside, any film where Gershon is playing a pre-rehab, diamond-adorned druggie stomping around making other girls' lives hell is bound to be entertaining Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace - Gina Gershon as Donatella doing cocaine — Ginatella hides her cocaine in a refillable gold mascara tube. Handy! Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace — We don't envy the task of creating costumes that embody 90s Versace on a budget. The film's costume designer Claire Nadon spoke about how tough she found it, and while she did pretty well, it's hard to ignore this scene in which Versace 1994's legendary ad campaign (on the left) is reimagined as something out of a Jane Norman lookbook (on the right) Photograph: Guardian

House of Versace: House of Versace - family time — In this scene, Ginatella, daughter Allegra, and a CGI hologram of Racquel Welch are watching TV when they learn of Princess Di's death. 'Why is everyone dying?' asks Allegra. Sob Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace - Gianni Versace — Gianni and Donatella weren't strangers to sibling rivalry. Before poor Gianni's death, Donatella was constantly telling him to 'go and play with your boyfriend'. In one scene she delivers this burn that we sincerely hope is word-for-word historically accurate: 'If I hadn’t quit school to come and help you, you’d be the best dressed costumer at the opera house in Reggio, Calabria' Photograph: Jan Thijs/Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace - smashing — Drama. Ginatella is watching yet another news clip about Princess Diana's death when she spots footage of Diana wearing a blue Versace gown. 'Oh, remember that gown? We sent her that gown after her divorce. Oh, she loved it. Oh, she said she danced all night in it!' Off her face on champagne and coke she then attempts to recreate Princess Di's dance moves, promptly smashing her champagne glass into a chandelier. She sobs as she picks out the shards of glass from the carpet. We've all been there Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace Harlequin trousers — Two words: those trousers Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace - Donatella at Ateliers — In the showroom, she instructs the atelier to make a new design: 'It's got to have a split up the thigh, and I want it in black and persimmon and canary yellow.'

Atelier: 'Are you sure?'

Ginatella: 'Did I stutter?' Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House Of Versace - Return from rehab scene — After rehab, Ginatella returns to work and delivers an epitaph-worthy one-liner: 'I was always crazy, even before the drugs!' Photograph: Lifetime

House of Versace: House of Versace finale — Ultimately, Donatella overcomes family tragedy and the brand's decline with a triumphant catwalk show. Aw, remember when supermodels would clap? Photograph: Lifetime

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