Donatella Versace became creative director of Versace in 1997, following the murder of her brother Gianni Versace on July 15 that year.
Before taking the top creative role, Donatella had already been deeply involved in the house. She joined Gianni and Santo in Milan in the 1970s and became the company's vice president when the brand was established. Gianni also entrusted her with Versus, the younger, more experimental Versace line, in 1989.
During Gianni's illness in 1996 and early 1997, Donatella assumed much of the brand's decision-making. After his death, she inherited a portion of the company and succeeded him as creative director, while Santo continued in a business leadership role and Donatella's daughter, Allegra, inherited a major ownership stake.
The date is sometimes confused with 1998, when Donatella presented her first couture collection for the house after Gianni's death. Her appointment itself belongs to 1997, making that the canonical answer.