Michele’s Gucci Merges Menswear and Womenswear; Collaborates with Net-a-Porter

By Something Curated

Guides - 4 May 2016 -

Gucci S/S 16. The androgynous vibe brought in by the label’s recently-hired creative director Alessandro Michele (Feb 2015) is here to stay, as the merge of menswear and womenswear shows was recently announced. All images via Gucci.

Label of the moment Gucci will join the ranks of Vetements, Burberry, and others in doing away with the menswear/womenswear distinction by streamlining their collections into a single, gender-neutral show – the first of which will take place in 2017 at Gucci’s new Milan HQ in Via Mecenate. This move may come as little surprise, with the influence of Alessandro Michele, who was appointed Gucci’s creative director in February 2015, nudging later collections into a more androgynous aesthetic. (If you’re not already following the designer’s personal instagram, you definitely should be.)

S/S 16 Gucci. Flamboyant and retro styles as well as tinted oversize sunglasses, knit caps, and floral and paisley print were bucking both seasonal and gender constricts in this season’s menswear.

The brand’s chief executive Marco Bizzarri acknowledged the more practical aspects of the fusion, hinting at a more efficient pace of production to match the ever-quickening developments of the industry, while Michele expressed excitement for the possibility of a different kind of narrative for his storytelling through design.

Waiflike boys and traditionally "feminine" cuts and prints are all part of the changing face of Gucci. — Waiflike boys and traditionally “feminine” cuts and prints are all part of the changing face of Gucci.

Michele has also announced an exclusive capsule collaboration with Net-a-Porter selling 20 products from iphone cases to handle bags, on the platform which he describes as ‘like being inside a magazine’. The capsule collection will be available on net-a-porter.com from 12 May.

Stay up to date with Something Curated