Donatella Versace thinks Lady GaGa is a true style icon.

The fashion designer believes her late brother Gianni would have been as big a fan of Gaga as she is because of the singer's strong artistic vision and power to introduce the Versace name to a whole new generation.

Reminiscing about the first time she met Gaga, Donatella said: ''She was determined, she already knew what she wanted: to go straight to the heart of the maison and show those clothes to a new generation, to all her fashion-lover fans.

''I'm sure that, if Gianni were still alive, he would have been a huge fan of hers.''

Donatella and Gaga are firm friends and have worked together on several occasions, most notably on the star's 'The Edge of Glory' video, for which the Italian designer allowed access to vintage designs for the first time since Gianni's death in 1997.

It has also been rumoured Donatella is designing an elaborate black and gold silk wedding dress for Gaga to wear when she weds her boyfriend Taylor Kinney.

Donatella added in an interview with Italian magazine Amica: ''I'm very proud to say that Lady Gaga is a friend of mine. I'm very happy that she is part of the Versace family.''