Versace will display its first couture catwalk show in eight years at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week this January.

On Tuesday, November 15, a press release from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture revealed that the Italian fashion house will return to the official couture calendar in 2012.

Sources told Women's Wear Daily that Atelier Versace will show in the first time slot on the first day of Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, when it kicks off on January 23. Other fashion houses due to showcase their creations include haute couture pros Chanel, Christian Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Versace last featured on the couture calendar in January 2004; watch a video of it here.

Since then the brand has favored intimate presentations of its haute couture line rather than catwalk shows.

The news comes just before the release of the Versace for H&M collection, featuring low price items such as a $29.99 pair of jungle print leggings, and shows creative director Donatella Versace doesn't want to neglect the top end of the fashion spectrum.

This was further highlighted after recent reports of the New York Daily News attempting to organize a shoot featuring "real women" wearing the Versace for H&M line. Journalists were reportedly told by an H&M publicist that "Donatella will likely not approve shooting the collection on real women."

When images of potential "real" models were shown to the publicist, journalists were told one rejected woman didn't "fit [Versace's] branding."

Representatives for H&M and Versace have not commented on the report.

Versace for H&M will hit some 300 stores internationally and online November 17.

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