I probably should apologize right away. I’m going to use the word luxurious in it’s every derivative in this review. I should be better with words seeing how I’m the writer, but luxury sums up the new Gucci Spring 2011 collection so well.
Frida Giannini is proud of being commercially viable. Last month, she told W magazine, “I don’t think that being innovative means making only strange or weird things that you would never see in the street.” To people who deem her too commercial she says, “If commercial means that you can save jobs, I am more than happy to be commercial.”
Perhaps it takes that kind of unpretentious attitude to create such a strong, feminine and luxurious collection that you want to buy and wear in it’s entirety. In the sea or neutrals we’ve seen on the runway for the past couple of weeks, what else if not innovative you can call Giannini’s choice to use such bold colors, especially considering that of all fashion brands you would expect Gucci to deliver the neutrals.
The collection starts of with color-blocking. The first look was an orange jacket with turquoise pants and a purple strapless top underneath, all tied together with a chunky gold belt. What a rush it must have been to see it person. And with more luxurious, color-block looks coming out, one after another, not letting you rest for one second, you can’t help but compare the impact of this collection to Yves Saint Laurent’s “Peasant Chic” being born back in 1976.
Of course it wouldn’t be a Gucci collection without the wide array of beige, gold and brown tones in a myriad of silhouettes which Giannini embellished with fringe to keep up the 70’s spirit. Then came the evening looks. Long svelte silhouettes in black – all belted with the same tassel belt; Even the cropped smoking blazer (another ode to YSL?).
The color came back in the last five looks. All fringe-embellished dresses in a vague tribal motif. I can’t imagine a more appropriate finish. A+!
