The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

bitedesignerprofile house would be leaving the classic fashion calendar behind for good and reducing their shows from five to two per year. A few weeks later, Gucci presented its latest collection in a 12-hour live stream called Epilogue , which celebrated the magic of fashion by unveiling what lies behind the curtains and took the viewer behind the scenes in a co-ed lookbook shoot. This colourful ready-to-wear collection influenced by the patterns and tones of the ‘70s had long-sleeved dresses, cropped blouses and flared hems. It also mixed emblematic designs with unexpected materials, colours and patterns to create a timeless insignia. Accessories included The Jackie 1961 Small Shoulder Bag in red or brown suede with the web stripe enhanced with an additional shoulder strap and buckle closure that adds a contemporary feel to the archival style whether worn on the shoulder or as a crossbody. Women’s Knee-High Boot with Horsebit in smooth python print leather has a sculpted block heel with a square-shaped toe and side zip closure. Similarly, the women’s Mid-Heel Slingback with Horsebit in python print leather has the exact details and leather sole. This particular style is also available in white, black, light pink and bright green. The oversized Round-Frame Sunglasses in pastel pink, orange or light blue acetate have matching colour temples and lens- es and are 100% UVA/UVB protected. This season, Gucci unveiled its SS22 collection entitled Love Parade, influenced by Michele’s love of Hollywood. “Mum worked in the film industry as an assistant in a production company,” he revealed. “I remember the stories she told me, and the details and the sparkles, about that dream factory. There was the alabaster paleness of Marilyn Monroe and her diaphanous voice. There were the black satin gloves of Rita Hayworth and Veronica Lake's velvet hair and the bewitch- ing allure of Rock Hudson and Kim Novak's transformative power. Everything felt like a fairy tale.” The creative director chose Hollywood Boulevard to cap- ture the indefeasible gift of dreaming and the mythopoetic aura of cinema. “This boulevard of stars lends perfect sup- port to my uncurbed love for the classical world,” he said. “Hollywood is, after all, a Greek temple populated by pagan divinities. Here, actors and actresses are acknowledged as heroes of the myth: hybrid creatures with the power to hold divine transcendence and mortal existence simultaneously, both the imaginary and the real.” The attendees, who included A-listers, fashion insiders and influencers, were treated to a dreamy collection of colos- sal fur coats and dramatic fur-trimmed dressing gowns in sherbet shades of lime and raspberry pink. Wide-brimmed cowboy hats were reminiscent of those worn by JohnWayne and dainty jewel-encrusted tiaras worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It also delivered thigh-high fishnet stockings, corsets, garters and Mary Janes platforms from the ‘40s and ‘50s down the Tinseltown sidewalk. Michele didn’t forget the ‘70s that shaped much of his col- lections since joining Gucci in 2015. He showcased extrav- agant furs, glistening headpieces, shimmering satin and vibrant checkered suits, oversized flat aviator-style glasses and metallic goddess gowns. In the finale, the designer left his audience with a message, “Los Angeles shines its magic, which is timeless; it’s a place that brushes the divinities, be- coming a mythology of the possible.” www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb