Exclusive: The Complete Story Behind H&M’s Most Fabulous Designer Collab

It's easy to forget that 10 years ago, the only way to get a designer label on your back was to drop a lot of dough. But, H&M helped change that, with its first designer collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld launching in 2004, and continuing to this day to bring fashion luminaries like Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Marni, and Isabel Marant (to name just a few of the collabs that this writer lined up for) to your local mall.

To celebrate its 10th year bringing haute to the masses, H&M's produced a book commemorating its first decade of designer collabs. You can grab the book at H&M stores starting November 6. That's the same day the feverishly anticipated Alexander Wang X H&M collection hits stores, so, yes, you really might need to call into work that day (no judgment).

To whet your appetite, we bring you an exclusive chapter from the book, chronicling the inside story of Versace's super-glam 2011 collection for H&M.

And, if you're in New York, make sure to visit the H&M flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 48th Street beginning October 27 for a retrospective of looks from past designer collaborations (and, an in-person sneak preview of Alexander Wang!).

Read on to learn how Versace X H&M came to be — studded dresses, Prince-soundtracked launch parties, and all.