Gucci Reveals Latest Collection Through 'Ouverture Of Something That Never Ended'
Shot in Rome, the seven-part film series follow actress, artist and performer Silvia Calderoni as she goes about her day
On Sunday, Gucci concluded GucciFest, a digital fashion film festival featuring the debut of Ouverture of Something That Never Ended—a miniseries showcasing the brand's new collection—co-directed by Academy Award winner and filmmaker Gus Van Sant and creative director Alessandro Michele.
Shot in Rome, the seven-part film series follows actress, artist and performer Silvia Calderoni as she goes about her day, encountering eclectic characters. Brand ambassadors such as Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Florence Welch also make cameos in the episodes, wearing the brand's latest offerings.
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Photo: Courtesy
Gucci Ouverture - Silvia Calderoni 1
Ouverture of Something that Never Ended comes after Michele announced in May that Gucci will show just twice a year moving forward with Notes from the Silence—entries from his personal diary in which he relayed his thoughts about the fashion calendar. This new presentation format is "a joyful and irregular new tale, no longer constrained by the old notion of seasonality, closer to his expressive call and told by blending rules and genres, feeding on new spaces, linguistic codes and communication platforms."
Alongside the miniseries, GucciFest also screened fashion films celebrating the works of fifteen independent young designers: Ahluwalia, Shanel Campbell, Stefan Cooke, Cormio, Charles De Vilmorin, JordanLuca, Mowalola, Yueqi Qi, Rave Review, Gui Rosa, Rui, Bianca Saunders, Collina Strada, Boramy Viguier, and Gareth Wrighton.
Harper's BAZAAR Singapore Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Goh sat down with actress Oon Shu An at the travelling exhibition when it arrived on our shores to talk about the significance of GucciFest and what clues it held for the future of the House.
Related article: Gucci Opts For Two Seasonless Shows A Year, Shaking Up The Fashion Calendar
Scroll to see a recap of all seven episodes.
Episode 1 - At Home
Calderoni gets ready for the day in black lace pajamas, before changing into a sequin and pearl embellished, pastel-striped gown and a matching sequinned bonnet in pink. She also throws a dress from Michele's first Gucci women's show Fall Winter 2015 off her balcony, and becomes lost in a television lecture by writer and philosopher Paul B. Preciado.
Episode 2 - At the Cafe
Calderoni, wearing a Gucci mongram skirt and football tee, chats with singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks at a quaint cafe. Groovy customers dressed in their finest dance to Bronski Beat; pair of nudists chat at the counter, and an eccentric artist draws while speaking with Calderoni. Upon leaving the bathroom, she finds that the cafe has been transformed into an empty theatre.
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Episode 3 - At the Post Office
Silvia makes a trip to the post office to send a postcard. Among fabulously attired customers waiting in line is Italian art critic Achille Bonito Oliva, who chats with Harry Styles about art, fashion, and creativity over the phone.
Episode 4 - The Theatre
Silvia goes to an audition with the Sasha Waltz And Guests dance company, accompanied by actor and writer Jeremy O. Harris. As the dancers warm up, she (dressed in a sequinned outfit, no less) performs with German dance leader Sasha Waltz to Ravel’s Bolero.
Episode 5 - The Neighbours
The episode returns to Silvia's apartment. She opens her windows, eyeing her neighbors: a band in rehearsal, artist Ariana Papademetropoulos at work; a woman sitting fully clothed in her bathtub, watching Billie Eilish’s music video for “Therefore I Am," and others going about their chores.
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Episode 6 - At the Vintage Shop
Calderoni discovers a Gucci store designed to look like a vintage shop. As she and the customers begin to browse and try on the wares, an enigmatic woman, played by Florence Welch, enters the store. She writes notes and secretly tucks them inside garments and bags of unnoticing customers.
Episode 7 - A Nightly Walk
In the final episode, Silvia wanders the nighttime streets of Rome wearing a vintage-styled suit. She chats with her friend, played by singer and actor Lu Han, on the intercom while he irons a dress. Following a spontaneous ride on a scooter, Silvia walks into the night and discovers she is back where she started.
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