Fashion News Alert: Steven Kolb Resigns, Donatella Versace’s New Brand, and Presley Gerber Has Died

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Unless you are living under a rock or do not follow fashion, you probably know about all the scandal around CFDA CEO Steven Kolb tackling a PETA protester at the COS spring 2027 runway show. Early last week, Kolb was put on administrative leave. And last Friday, after two decades of leading the CFDA, Kolb resigned from his position as CEO.

“I am enormously proud of what we have built together and believe this is the right moment for both me and the organization to begin a new chapter,” Steven Kolb said in a statement, as reported at cnn.com. “We respect Steven’s decision to step down and are grateful for his many years of leadership and service to the CFDA and our industry,” the association said in a statement on social media.

Before his resignation, and according to Moira Colley, senior director of media relations for PETA in New York, PETA had planned to meet with Kolb to discuss the end of the use of wool and animal skin in clothing. Now that Kolb has resigned PETA still plans to meet with Kolb and “hopefully others in the industry will meet and take meaningful steps to stop this epidemic of cruelty to animals.”

Image courtesy of tmz.com

Gone too soon

Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and Casamigos co-founder Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, September 20 at the age of 27. Though the exact cause of death is not known, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner, Presley Gerber was in a rehab facility.

Following in his supermodel mom’s footsteps, Presley started modeling professionally in 2015, signing with his sister Kaia Gerber to IMG Models. After leaving IMG Models for DNA Models in 2019, Kaia’s career reached new heights while Presley’s career stalled. Over the next five years Presley spiraled into alcohol and drug addictions, over time becoming addicted opiates with an almost fentanyl overdose.

According to the fashionweekdaily.com in 2025 Presley confirmed that he was suffering from prescription medication dependency after seeing over 15 different psychiatrists who he accused of heavily medicating him. Kaia Gerber in an August Vogue interview stated that she was proud of her brother for seeking therapy to deal with his addiction struggles.

“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything—and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone,’” she said. “There’s only so much you can hide from the world. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”

Image courtesy of glamcheck.com

Donatella is not done yet

Donatella Versace is not letting any grass grow under her feet. After being eased out of her brother’s namesake luxury fashion house, Donatella is partnering with REVOLVE in a joint venture that spans fashion and beauty.

“I believe creativity should be fearless, inclusive and alive in the world,” said Donatella in a statement. “I have always been inspired by the next generation, in music, film, art and, of course, fashion. This partnership gives me the freedom to speak to that generation in a completely new and personal way, through beauty and fashion. REVOLVE understands something I believe deeply: culture comes from connection. Together, we want to create that connection with a new voice, a new look and a new energy.”

Donatella Versace will act as the chief creative officer of this venture, crafting its identity, product, collaborators, and cultural world. Revolve will use its business outreach to identify global capabilities across digital commerce, technology, consumer intelligence, operations, marketing, and community.

“Donatella is one of the defining creative voices of our time,” said Michael Mente, co-founder and co-CEO of Revolve Group, as reported in fashionweekdaily.com. “This partnership gives that vision an entirely new platform and the freedom to build something from the ground up.”

“Donatella has an extraordinary instinct for what the next generation wants and an unmatched ability to connect fashion with culture,” said Raissa Gerona, Revolve Group’s president of brand and partnerships. “That is what makes this partnership so exciting.”

The brand name, vision, and launch will be revealed later this year.

—William S. Gooch