MY LOVE LETTER TO GUCCI
The act of creation is an act of resistance
There is something poetic — no, esoteric — about the way Alessandro Michele does things. He knows how to inject the right drama — razzmatazz and sequins included — to make that fashion moment go beyond magical. Try as I can, it is not easy to dissect the mind of a man who put Gucci back on top of the game by presenting collections that are nothing short of explosive and ultra-desirable: “An explosion in which vital strengths, once trapped, are now released.”
This spring-summer 2018 is no different. Gucci provides shock and glam elevated to revolutionary levels, breaks traditional thinking and brings forth fresh meanings. There are fully beaded gowns that carry their own spotlight, dresses that would make you question your existence, logo bags that scream against uniformity and heart-shaped and encrusted eyewear that will get you acquainted with your higher self.
The shoes are embroidered, rock-studded and in full Technicolor. There are tiaras you can wear on your head and on your neck, perfect for the coming royal wedding. There are bomber jackets that are meant for figure skating in the Olympic levels. I, Tonya, I tell you.
“The act of creation,” as Deleuze would say, is also an act of resistance. “The collection embodies the act of resistance. A revolt against fixedness and for an inalienable right to difference.”
Alessandro Michele, the prophet further challenges what is existing in the name of what is missing and puts in place “what could be,” and then Gucci lets him be. It takes great intellect and a sense of irony and humor to get that. Gucci fans and loyalists seem to get it. It is fresh. It is new. It is now.
THE BEAUTY OF THE SLOW AND SHOW
Gucci then states, “Resist, then. Resist acceleration and its obsessive panting that risks shattering life. Resist the mantra of speed that violently leads to losing oneself.” Then it goes philosophical: “It requires the courage to slowly linger; to stay with care; to give oneself up to a story to dig deep, with a wide and graceful breath.”
This collection celebrates the beauty of the slow, and of the show. A tribute to icon Elton John is a luscious highlight. Flashy jackets that are meant for an arena, suits that’ll steal the thunder from Thor and dresses that’ll outshine the sun. In other words, I want it all.
“Spiritismo” is a big word used in Gucci’s big bag of the season, and therein lies the contradiction of flaunting something so personal, that makes it go beyond any categories, classification and boundaries. It invites you to go inside, find who you are and celebrate it.
Call me biased but this is my favorite Gucci collection of all time. Check out these photos and see a roadmap that gets us closer to happiness. In the Philippines, Gucci has shops in Greenbelt 4 in Makati and Shangri-La Mall East Wing in Mandaluyong.