'House Of Gucci' Serves Up Love, Greed And Betrayal With Operatic Flair

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

After months of anticipation and buzz around Ridley Scott's House of Gucci, the fashion family epic has finally hit our shores. And as you'd expect, everything in the film is over-the-top.

A retelling of the turbulent marriage of Gucci heir Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) to the ambitious Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) culminating in Maurizio's scandalous murder, House of Gucci delivers a story of love, greed and betrayal with operatic flair. We witness the couple's chance meeting at a party and their romantic courtship, when Maurizio’s father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) cuts him off for choosing to marry Patrizia, whom he deems a gold-digger; the disputes between Maurizio’s flashy uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) and his not-so-bright cousin Paolo (Jared Leto), the rise of Maurizio who stages a coup, and finally, his tragic downfall. As the plot thickens, the Guccis backstab and outwit one another, resulting in their exit from the family business founded by Guccio Gucci in 1921.

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High-octane drama and loud performances aside (that includes comical Italian accents donned by some of the cast), the film is full of glamourous high-fashion looks—from sophisticated suits and embellished gowns to outrageous bling and big hair—that evolved with the character arcs. Costume designer Janty Yates crafted the stylish world of Gucci with custom and vintage pieces that included those pulled from the actual house of Gucci's well-guarded archive collection and loaned from Gaga’s own personal closet. Some iconic pieces seen in the film: a pantsuit in the house's iconic double G logo worn by Gaga, arty scarves that Rodolfo created for Grace Kelly, as well as horsebit loafers designed by Aldo in 1953.

From Italian palazzi in the beautiful countryside to ultra-modern apartments and glitzy clubs, the beautiful locations across Rome, Milan, New York and the Alps deserve equal attention. Ornate gilded interiors with luxe touches, such as mirrored panels, crystal chandeliers, oversized sofas and marble finishes highlight the decadence of the Gucci lifestyle and provide lavish backdrops for the infamous family's power struggles.

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Thanks to the movie's perfect internet content—first-time lead actress Gaga and Driver in character as married fashion heirs dressed in their best ski getups, Leto practically unrecognisable as Pablo, Gaga's now-iconic “Father, son and House of Gucci” line, among others—the murder melodrama has already birthed a myriad of memes and immense online exposure, which certainly makes for great marketing. The Business of Fashion reports that since September, "House of Gucci has sparked over 25,000 posts across news and social media, garnering online visibility worth an estimated $104 million."

According to Lyst's latest quarterly fashion report, Gucci reportedly saw an 86 percent revenue increase from Q2 when the official trailer was released in August. The movie has also caused a surge in searches for clothing and accessories worn by Gaga and Driver in the movie—such as polka-dot and lace dresses, bags, aviators and scarves—from the luxury label and resale platforms selling preloved Gucci wares. Gucci's strategy of collaborations, drops and initiatives on the occasion of its centenary— including The Hacker Project co-branded with Balenciaga, its second partnership with The North Face, and the Gucci Vault venture—also come at a time when the brand can play into the craze surrounding the film.

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While the film chronicles a dark chapter the Gucci family would like to leave in the past, there's no denying that the 'House of Gucci Effect' is real, and that the Kering-owned luxury fashion house stands to benefit from one of the biggest brand placements since The Devil Wears Prada.

With an epic runtime of over two and a half hours, House of Gucci's titillating tale of murder and vengeance in the fashion world led by Gaga and Driver is certainly worth a watch.

House of Gucci hits theaters on December 30.