A question of identity is the name of the game here—or at least that’s what might be expected from Gucci’s upcoming spring/summer 2023 presentation. Titled ‘Gucci Twinsburg‘, the show is right on schedule to hit Milan Fashion Week at 8 p.m Singapore Time this evening—where
Alessandro Michele seems to be taking a lofty yet contemplative approach to the runway—using his clothes and models to potentially reflect on the blurred lines between our lived reality and seeming illusions. In recent times, Michele’s drawing board has always been
characteristically playful, utilising a swirling amalgamation of textures, a kaleidoscope of maximalist hues and abstract prints, undeniably delivered with an edge. All of which, to bring about an exuberant mood of glamour and high drama to the fantastical notions of social topics that often surface from his runway. For ‘Gucci Twinsburg’, Michele teases an inkling of what his showgoers might expect from the show via the maison’s
Instagram account: collage-like imagery and videos that resemble optical illusions and playful prose are used to pose the question of: ‘What do you see? Do you see what it is?’. In the house’s final video teaser post, we might glean a better understanding of Gucci’s intentions—for if “the illusion begins and ends at the walls that surround us, and thus creates the necessity to look beyond”, a search for our personal identities and what can be considered “real” is up to us to discover and
must be endeavoured towards. But with each and every of Michele’s shows, one can simply expect the unexpected—and a fantastical, visual treat will surely come through. The front row might also see a bevy of international stars, from Gucci ambassadors IU and Lee Jung-Jae to Liu Wen and Jodie Turner-Smith. Catch the Gucci SS23 show here on Friday, 23 September, 8PM (SGT). 10-word show review: A sublime showcase of unifying individualism at its very best The vision: The show opens to a preppy suit with pants lobbed off at mid-thigh hanging off garters and in an instant, the procession transforms into a cultural exchange of myriad influences: from the dressing of ’80s disco and that of hippie bohemians to those of beatniks and preppy college students. Oriental inspiration came in the form of qipaos and dudous paired alongside multi-coloured beaded headgear and futuristic face chains. The power of individuality is constantly challenged at every Gucci show and today, upon seeing Mogwai (better known as the Gremlin from the hit horror movie from the ’80s) worn as a bag charm, it was a hint of what was to come. Given that these creatures multiply in hordes upon touching water, the idea of clones brought the show to a jaw-dropping climax when the wall separating the entire show space suddenly raised to reveal identical twins—wearing the exact same outfit—coming down the runway to hold hands upon meeting in the middle. Not only was it a fashion moment but more importantly, the idea of having 68 pairs of twins come together for it all, definitely stirred up the emotions of many. In fact, I was told that Michele himself was tearing up throughout his entire post-show interview. The vibe: Monochromatic portraits of lookalikes or twins encapsulating the various emotions of a human posed as the backdrop to the show space built completely out of metal grills. Lights drifted in and out—as if we were in a dreamscape—whilst the audience basked in the ambient sounds of Ancient Future by The Colour of Time. Signature silhouettes: Whilst the overall vibe seemed to be a lot to take in, the show was brought back to ground zero upon closer inspection: there were sharply-cut pinstripe suits paving the way (Look 3), boxy disco jackets from the ’80s (Look 7) and chinoiserie motifs—a favourite of Michele—that came in the form of a lowly slung embroidered skirt (Look 23) or a cropped bib top (Look 49). A simple black drape dress with a slit all the way up provided a nice pause for the senses (Look 67). What to shop from the collection: Most definitely something chinoiserie from the collection, while the new crossbody bag and the studded strappy pumps has staying power. Let’s not forget that not-so-little black dress at the tail end of the show which is part classic and part femme fatale.
 1 / 12 Look 3, Gucci SS23
2 / 12 Look 6, Gucci SS23
3 / 12 Look 8, Gucci SS23
4 / 12 Look 13, Gucci SS23
5 / 12 Look 21, Gucci SS23
6 / 12 Look 23, Gucci SS23
7 / 12 Look 28, Gucci SS23
8 / 12 Look 34, Gucci SS23
9 / 12 Look 39, Gucci SS23
10 / 12 Look 49, Gucci SS23
11 / 12 Look 51, Gucci SS23
12 / 12 Look 67, Gucci SS23 |
