Personal best

alessandro Michele enlists a new troop of collaborators to convey his “be who you want to be” ethos for Gucci’s Autumn/winter 2018. Who are his new allies? JACQUIE ANG reports

it WAS MADE-FOR-INSTAGRAM fodder right from the start. Alessandro Michele’s immaculate set for Autumn/ Winter 2018 had tiled ceilings, stark overhead LED spotlights, fi re doors with panic bars, and surgical beds surrounded by plastic waiting roomstyle seats to complete the operating theatre installed in the show space of Gucci’s headquarters.

Models of no fixed identity or origin cradled a baby dragon, a chameleon and even decapitated heads (relax, they’re just Makinarium replicas!). One sported eyes on the hands, while another had a third eye on the forehead.

While the nextlevel spectacle that only he can conjure racked up the likes, what will ring up sales is the new roll call of collaborators the creative director — who sees his work akin to a surgeon’s — has enlisted to enable you to craft your own identity.

SEGA

One more crossover from Prefall 2018 is the Flashtrek laceup shoes, Michele’s crossbreed of the mountain boot and chunky trainer.

Sporting highgrip rubber soles, the shoes walked the runway in six different variations of colours and materials including suede, techno canvas, leather and mesh, which means every style is oneofakind. The soupedup Autumn/winter 2018 generation flaunts a detachable crisscross grosgrain strap studded with colourful crystals.

The shoe’s tongue carries the Gucci brand in the font of Japanese multinational video game developer SEGA, which made its debut in Spring/summer 2018.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

With a wide range of hats, bags, shoes, menswear and womenswear, you can’t miss Major League Baseball‘s ( MLB) presence in this collection. The collaboration with the oldest of four major professional sports leagues in the US and Canada was fi rst introduced on Prefall’s accessories. It has been extended to readytowear, making it the new collection’s most prominent partnership.

This time, the professional baseball organisation’s team logos of New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers et al have evolved from print to patches. The embroidered embellishments go against conventions to inject an unexpected sporty edge into pieces both formal and casual.

Ever the rulebreaker, Michele also proposes a unisex ensemble (above) from the traditionally male tailoredshirtandtrousers outfit that the Gucci girl can wear too.