Last year at this time, everyone was asking, "Who is this Alessandro Michele?" Prior to his first show for Gucci—which he threw together in literally weeks—he was one of the unsung behind-the-curtain heroes. What a difference a year makes, eh? Now he's the designer to watch, wear and chase. In a handful of collections, he has both re-energized Gucci and the industry and he has created his signature look—eccentric, lush, colorful. Crazy good.
Michele mixes and matches in a manner that feels like it could be random, though it surely is not. An intarsia sweater with a panther prancing across it is paired against a printed silk skirt, while a wallpaper floral blouse gets tucked into a black-and-white optic pleated number. Chinoiserie motifs mix with trompe l'eoil and toile.
Charm, wit, irreverence and fun is what the new Gucci is all about, and so are great clothes that women from different tribes and demos will want to wear. A yellow Big Bird-esque coat may play to the editorialists, but a poppy red peacoat that devolves into a white pattern is visually interesting.
And let's not forget the way Michele has handled the Gucci logo and stripes. Even the most branding-averse fashion-lovers can't find fault with the way the house's signature colors and double-Gs have turned into cool patterns and prints, sometimes as varsity stripes or abstracted prints on a flippy skirt or in the bodice of a grand dame-worthy gown in green (another house standard).
Every look Michele presented was different, driving home the idea of personal style and inviting customers to pick and choose as she pleases...and no doubt they will. His evening gowns were bright and cheerful in tiers of chiffon and sequins that swept and fluttered as the models walked in the finale. But it was how the designer is injecting humor and joy into every day dressing that is most interesting. It was announced earlier this week that Gucci would not be moving to a see now/buy now model but our bet is that people won't mind waiting six months for this.
From: Harper's BAZAAR US
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016
Gucci fall/winter 2016