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By Paulina Dela Flor
Fashionistas with a love for
wanderlust, eclectic flare and Euro-inspired decadence of the
decades past . . . set your style and welcome Gucci Boho! For Fall
2008 to 2009, Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini has explored
the world of Bohemian glamour and translated it into a
ready-to-wear collection that is poised to rock the season.
A trajectory of individualism,
including the dynamic and decadent 1920s, the indulgent 1970s era of
groupies and the unconventional music talents of today, has subtly
contributed to the personal spirit of these clothes. “Bohemia,
past and present, from les années folles to performers like The
Citizens Band today,” said Giannini.
Bohemian Luxury
This collection is first and
foremost deeply luxurious, but nonetheless possesses a rock n’
roll sensibility and unstudied nonchalance that make it a uniquely
modern and ultimately sexy discourse. Fittingly, each piece shown in
the Fall collection is a singular idea. No two prints or ornate
embroideries are alike, which imparts an art-like quality to the
clothing. The prints each divulge their own graphic statement and
have been inspired by Eastern European textiles and tapestries. The
bold patterns reveal a provenance in textiles, as do opulent
jacquards, which recall gold-sprinkled tapestries.
A profound sense of rich
decadence abounds throughout the collection. Ornate embroidery with
gold thread, metal disks, gold tassels and small beading touches
everything from the sleeves of floaty silk dresses to the waists of
cropped shearling jackets. Glittering metal or jeweled accents cover
shoulders and hems, while sphere-like gold studs decorate the
surface of bags, shoe booties and cropped leather jackets. Rigorous
military accents ground the decoration and give it a masculine edge.
Mix and match style pieces
The pant this season is a Frida-favorite:
narrow, low-waist and with built-in stirrup closures. With grosgrain
or passementerie piping, the pants are paired with soft embroidered
shirts, heavy wool jackets covered in rich detail and are tucked in
to over-the-knee, fringed boots. Skirts, meanwhile, are short,
heavily decorated and paired with cropped hip-height jackets.
The dress, in countless guises,
is the cornerstone item of the Gucci Fall collection. With dropped
waists, bold prints and a strong shoulder emphasis, these sexy
dresses, either in silk or woven embroideries, evoke a 1920s
silhouette. The lighter feel of these feminine dresses, however, is
anchored by the structure of uber-rich outerwear. With past trends
shying away from the feminine form in favor of a drab conformity,
style mavens can now rejoice at the multitude of mix and match
options to add to their wardrobe that celebrates all things woman.
Outerwear represents the maximum
expression of the collection’s luxury as well as the full
potential of Gucci’s technical capabilities. Exceptional pieces
include an Astrakan and mink jacket bound with ornate metal and
stone embroidery, an ultralight woven fox jacket, a full length
coyote coat with embroidered inserts, a billowing Ostrich and
Marabou coat and a remarkably precious lynx cropped jacket. While
Gucci’s opulent pieces may seem a bit too “warm” for the
Manila atmosphere— fur, frills and layered prints can find their
way into the local wardrobe given the right occasion (and proper
air-conditioning, of course).
Rich accessories and
eveningwear
One of the greatest things of
being a woman is our prerogative . . . to accessorize! Gucci’s
newest collection of accessories bestows an added dose of sexiness
of the collection. Studded booties and thick-strapped sandals make
the perfect accompaniment to light dresses, while fringed over the
knee boots pair with the equestrian-influenced pants. The Hysteria
bag comes in either a carpetbag or silk jacquard version, while the
newest Pelham bag is covered in rich astrakan. Debut shapes include
a super soft, aged python carryall as well as a miniature treasure
chest evening bag. Gucci’s signature “crystal GG,” a shiny
coating on the brand’s GG canvas, now comes on a flat hobo bag
studded with round studs. A heart-shaped crest decorates the new
“Babouska” handbag line and jewelry for the first time.
Evening, meanwhile, provides a
sophisticated synthesis on the themes introduced previously. Here,
sinuous, drop-waist dresses in velvet and crepe de chine impart a
1920’s glamour. Shoulders, a key focus point, are crusted with
luxurious embroidery and Faberge-like jewels while a stylized
fern-print and soft fringe add additionally rich detail.
In the Philippines, Gucci shoes,
bags and accessories are exclusively distributed by Stores
Specialists Inc. (SSI) and are available at the boutique located in
Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center, Makati.
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