The appointment of Alessandro Michele as Gucci’s creative director in 2015 saw a seismic shift in the creative direction of the label. Since acceding to this position, maximalism has been at the forefront of Michele’s aesthetic. We have seen a dramatic increase in the use of colour, textures and layers, all flaunted with abundant eccentricity. This new frivolous aesthetic saw a sharp shift away from Tom Ford’s sleek designs for Gucci in the 1990s.
Michele’s designs are not only visually exciting, they also actively engage with current cultural issues including nationality, race, gender, pop culture and sexual identity. Androgynous designs are a staple on Michele’s catwalks, with gender fluidity being explored through refreshing design.
In the vein of being relevant to the cultural zeitgeist, Michele engages actively with celebrities and social media. He has over 400,000 followers on his Instagram account and a celebrity following that includes Harry Styles, Jared Leto, Björk and A$AP Rocky.
One of Michele’s strengths is redesigning and reincorporating previous eras into a current context. The GG Marmont is one of Michele’s more tempered designs, harking back to the elegant Gucci designs from the 1970s. With simple quilting and an oversized bronze Double G clasp, the bag has been spotted on the shoulders of fashion icons, from Kendall Jenner to Sienna Miller.
The specialist Luxury Auction on the 7th of April features several Gucci pieces, including a GG Marmont handbag designed by Alessandro Michele.
Bethany McGougan / Luxury Manager
