Embroidered denim, pussy bows, sheer maxi dresses, ornate pearl jewelry, fur loafers, varsity sweaters, graffiti-splotched handbags, a full-blown ’70s geek fest—these are some of the big trends for fall, first seen at Gucci in Milan in February, that you’re likely to be seeing now on the racks of high-street retailers.
Such is the new influence of Gucci under Alessandro Michele that the fashion industry has been agog since he took the helm, looking to the brand for the next trend trajectory, however kooky and multifarious his references may be.
It’s also reportedly one of the most profitable luxury brands right now.
What you will find in stores now (at Greenbelt 4, Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza East Wing in Mandaluyong) is Michele’s fanciful collection inspired by, among others, street art, Animalia, Studio 54, Orientalia, the ’80s college girl, and the Renaissance.
It’s a hodgepodge of crazy, but there’s a seeming method to the madness that’s quite appealing; it’s nostalgic and vintage, yet very now.
There’s nothing minimalist about this Gucci.
At the press presentation for the Asian media in Taipei, a fashion editor quipped that it’s “Bambang chic,” referring to Manila’s flea market of secondhand and vintage finds.
And how apt. The Pre-Fall and Fall-Winter 2016 racks were filled with a motley of garments—from a pouf-sleeved striped varsity sweater to a logo spray-painted red fur coat and a Chinoise silk mini dress—that seemed to belong to varied individuals. You won’t cop each look wholesale, but may pick some of the elements.
Strong motif
The serpent, a Michele signature, is a strong motif, appearing in embroidery, from men’s denim jackets and jeans to handbags and shoes. From animals to florals, bold and graphic embroidery is huge in this collection. Even the Dionysus bag gets the embroidered treatment this fall.
Michele also tapped street artist Trouble Andrew to do graffiti work on several of the bags, both men’s and women’s, including the GucciGhost shoulder bag. The Sylvie top-handle bag, another modern classic, is given the biker treatment, its embossed leather trimmed with leather flames.
For shoulder bags, the go-to from this collection is the GG Marmont, a vintage-y style of quilted leather with a chain strap and Double G hardware.
Men’s bags and shoes are embroidered in bee, butterfly and snake motifs. The fur loafer that debuted a couple of seasons ago now comes in a variety of materials, from leather to jacquard.
Nonbasic guys also have studded and spiked loafers designed just for them, while some women’s shoes are adorned with pearls and crystals.
Gucci has teamed up with Peanuts for men’s sweaters and tees emblazoned with images of Snoopy and his gang.
In the Philippines, Stores Specialists Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Gucci.