Simply Abu Dhabi XXVIII

1 2 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I GUCCI Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, showed the brand’s Cruise collection 2018 at the Palatine gallery of Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The entire collection was a tribute to ancient Greek and Roman culture, with a touch of Italian Renaissance thrown in for good measure. Michele has evoked those eras in his work, but also, in his own unique way, created something new and fresh by mixing in references of the psychedelic 1960s and even the palazzo pantsuits of the 1970s. There are gowns, capes, tiaras, turbans and outdoor coats; the whole ensemble bears something strange and unusual, and perhaps this is Michele’s intent. Thanks to blending styles and references, nothing is overly clear and there is a curious uncertainty in Michele’s own codes and his own sense of beauty. It’s a beguiling stance to assume. What is surprising about Gucci is that when you get enter any of their boutiques, all the content – from small accessories to the ball gowns – exude a sense of quality and craftsmanship, even if the aesthetic is too extreme of unconventional for many potential customers. The feelings and emotional response Gucci creates is fluid, but what is always solid is the legion of admirers who always queue up to buy the best of each collection. In the latest creations, we see the GG logo embroidered and sparkling with new slogans such as “Guccy”, “Guccification” and “Guccify Yourself ”, which have become hallmarks of the collection. Statement pieces of the collection were ten leisure track suits that contrasted Athenian gowns and logo print suits for men. The Gucci cruise collection 2018 was a combination of playfulness and consciousness in which women can express their sense of style by mixing cultures, ideas, styles and materials. The whole show is a tribute to life and the joyful notion that the best of life can be found in combining things.