Boyish meets girlish in Gucci's latest fashion collection

International luxury brand Gucci keeps its Manila boutique constantly stocked with the latest collections launched in its flagship stores abroad. This year, the 2012 Spring/Summer collection was unveiled at Gucci’s Manila store last April 25.

 

The collection’s inspiration can be traced to art deco and hard decor in a sophisticated mix of graphic charm. It utilized elements of radiant sensuality and androgyny, chromatic contrasts, jewel details, and hypnotic animal prints.

“I wanted to explore an optical side of femininity by creating a sculptural glamour for the Gucci woman,” explains Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. 

“Fusing elements from our DNA, from design history, from photography – making them current with a strong sense of personality. Louise Brookes and Nancy Cunard in the images of Man Ray. The opulence of the era of hedonism. Mirror embroidery recalling the skyscrapers of a metropolis. Artisanal workings with 3D effects,” Giannini writes in her notes sent to all Gucci stores worldwide.
 

The clothes are boyish meets girlish. They flow but they also have fitted contrasts, and are accentuated with a touch of Decò high jewelry such as frog latches and jewel buttons, golden chains, and enamel tiger heads. Some pieces like high-waist soft pants with deep pleats show the masculine influence of the designs, while the fabric laces by the ankles hint of femininity.

The boyish influence continues with the jackets. Slim jackets have some Marine references and dinner jackets hug the shoulders. Lapels stand out, while the smart cuts and contrasting colors in silk jacquard add to the art deco play.

Emerald green and mandarin work their way into a palette dominated by white, black, and gold. Animal prints are present in a very subtle manner but strategic enough to give the clothes an almost optical movement. The giraffe graphics morph and join leopard spots; a crocodile print with metallic threads give a three-dimensional effect; tiger stripes give a modernist touch; while black and white zebra streaks turned into organized, mirror prints appear as inserts on a basic T-shirt, adding life to an otherwise simple garment.

For evening wear, dresses carry asymmetric excess here and there. They show the sensuality of netting and chiffon that would then slightly veil the skin, as if to tease. The House of Gucci calls it “architectural embroidery” where together with the softness of the gowns, they put handmade metal elements, carved plexiglass, prismatic crystals and baguettes altogether for the soft-hard contrast, following the art deco theme. Chains of gold also add a fringe robotic feel to the evening gowns.
 

Metal in accessories
 

Gucci also translated these inspirations to their jewelry, shoes and handbags. 

Shoes look like column heels ascending. They are luxuriously covered with a golden cage while some have stripes of reflector metal. Both the gold and the metal streaks make these heels call for attention. 
 

There are also flat sandals for this season of relaxation, and rounded sandals in black patent made with black crocodile leather with touches of gold—sandals that marry comfort with frill.

For this season’s bag, Gucci introduces the Gucci 1970 bag.

The name Gucci 1970 is inspired by the year when, for the first time, metal corners appeared on the House’s accessories. These metal corners now serve as distinguishing elements of the design of the Gucci 1970 bag.

Taking its cue from the House’s archive, the bag is a modern interpretation of a historic style. This season the bag becomes spacious and ultra soft, made using traditional leather such as nabuk calfskin and nappa, and in precious skins such as glossy crocodile and lustrous hand-painted python.

The palette is as luxurious as the materials: emerald green, black, natural beige tones, white and cocoa. In addition, crocodile and python create sophisticated chromatic intensities with their exotic textures.

Iconic details in brass hardware are embellished in minimalist lines. Corners are rigid, polished and engraved with the Gucci logo, and jewel tassels are handcrafted in micro metallic chains and applied to the strap to swing like the fringe of a dress when the bag carrier walks. 

The bag’s handle links the highly crafted metal chain to the leather, allowing for a practical model which is comfortable to carry.

A symbol of the eternal balance between tradition and innovation, the Gucci 1970 bag comes in both maxi and medium sizes and is versatile and multi-functional. Marketed by Gucci sales associates as “an accessory that is elegant, luxurious yet discreet,” it is “perfect from day to evening which makes it even a worthier purchase.”

Martina Castillejo, a first time guest at the Gucci boutique, tells GMA News Online that she was “drawn to the wearability of the clothes.” 

“The clothes and bags fit the Philippine climate and culture. I find this collection to have a more local and less Italian vibe,” she says.

“This particular Spring/Summer 2012 line is very attractive to the Filipino client,” says Rachelle Sayed, marketing officer for Gucci Philippines, in an interview with GMA News Online. 

“It is fashion forward yet elegant and sophisticated. The pieces are simple yet they give statement because of their excellent craftsmanship. The Filipino clients love simplicity but at the same time they do not hesitate to pay for quality and luxury,” Sayed adds. –KG, GMA News

Gucci is located at the ground floor of Greenbelt 4 in Makati City.

Photos courtesy of Gucci