There is perhaps no designer in fashion right now whose style is as recognizable as Gucci's Alessandro Michele. He's somehow found a way to mix the aesthetic of a Wes Anderson film, an 18th Century English aristocrat, a 1920s Parisian artist, and the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland into the coolest look around.
And while Michele's most famous right now for his bohemian maximalism, the designer also has a clear handle on the elegant tailoring that's no doubt part of his Italian DNA.
Two looks from the VIP attendees at Gucci's fall/winter 2017 show yesterday prove it.
Tom Hiddleston
Hiddleston is wearing a navy pinstripe two-button peak lapel New Marseille three-piece suit, a white shirt, red cashmere tie, and black leather lace ups, all from Gucci. Aside, maybe, from the mix of red and white in the pinstriping, it's a fairly conservative look that would suit a banker on Wall Street as well as a movie star on the red carpet. Which is to say it's versatile, in the best way possible. And perfectly fitted. As far as tailoring goes, this is about as good as it gets.
A$AP Rocky
But then on the other side of the coin is A$AP Rocky, who's wearing a Gucci pre-fall 2017 dark purple embroidered long velvet trench with a white embroidered hooded sweatshirt, brown wool pants (complete with a pale pink stripe at the side), and black leather loafers. Just describing it feels overwhelming. And yet, though it's the polar opposite of Hiddleston's streamlined suit, it still looks amazing. The rich brown tones pair perfectly with the bright white hoodie, and the loose, flowing cuts give it a sense of elegant nonchalance.
It's these two sides of the Gucci look that exhibit why Alessandro Michele is such a talented designer. He can do subtle, which is actually surprisingly hard. But he can also throw 37 references into one look and come out with something truly brilliant, which is even harder.
Needless to say, it's a good time to be—and wear—Gucci right now.
