Donatella Versace’s SS17 show saw the designer taking an athletic approach, transforming functional sportswear materials into couture-like silhouettes. Today, the Milanese translates these sports codes to the race track for a horse riding themed SS17 campaign, shot by legendary photographer Bruce Weber.

Set in the vast Kentucky countryside, the campaign stars models such as Edie Campbell (a keen horse rider), Anna Ewers and Filip Hrivnak alongside actor Mitchell Slaggert and musician Jake Lahrman.

Weber and Versace go way back: the photographer defined the Versus and Versace aesthetic in the 80s and 90s through his catalogue and campaign photography for the Italian luxury house, and more recently directed a special Chicago-based film as part of the brand’s FW16 campaign. “This is a collection about the dynamic moment and the freedom of the Versace life. There is no-one I know who can capture that spirit and energy like Bruce Weber,” says Donatella Versace.

“Creating the visual campaign for Donatella’s new collection has been exciting because it involves nature and horses and freedom,” Weber explained. “Freedom of choice, freedom of expression and freedom of speech. I think it’s always interesting that fashion can carry messages in a subtle way and make people think about their own lives and how they can make it better.”