To wit, Donatella Versace will attend an exclusive launch of men's wear at Barneys New York on Wednesday.

Di Risio also said the company plans to consolidate its accessories business at 40 percent of sales, with a focus on watches and jewelry. "This will definitely be one of the segments that we start to push and grow in a very intense manner from 2008," Di Risio said.

He added Versace would open a second stand-alone watch store — the first opened in Rome last year — in Dubai at the beginning of 2009, and that the company was assessing stand-alone jewelry formats, taking a lead from Italian rival Gucci.

Versace also is charting other luxury waters — or skies. After signing an agreement with helicopter maker AgustaWestland last year, Di Risio said the first two Agusta-Versace choppers were ready for handing over to their European buyers. He added the fashion house had almost finished an Airbus 380 airplane and was planning other "residential" luxury projects.

"We believe in 360-degree luxury," Di Risio said.