How Gucci’s Crystalized Human-Heart Bags Play a Part in the Conversation With Balenciaga
Gucci’s Alessandro Michele reinvented the wheelhouse for the presentation of his Aria collection, which was unveiled during a thrilling 15-minute video that commented on the iconic brand’s popularity. But Michele knows Gucci’s 100-year fame is rooted in historic success, so he wanted to pay respect to those who came before him, as well as those whom he respects in the industry. Though social media had been rife with rumors of a Balenciaga collaboration leading up to the show, Michele was more just inspired by Demna Gvasalia, the Georgian fashion designer who has brilliantly incorporated Cristóbal Balenciaga’s DNA through his own vision for the house.
Michele has been delighted to watch him and felt a connection with him, as he explained to BoF. “I wanted to go back to the things I loved in Balenciaga and let fashion speak the same language. We need to speak with everybody, there should be no boundaries,” he said, clarifying why he uses the term “hack” to describe his riff on Balenciaga’s pieces: “We’re both thieves of everything, in different ways but it belongs to both of us.” The most obvious odes to Balenciaga were floral boots, purses, blazers, outerwear, and the crystalized skirt set visibly emblazoned with the logo, but if you’re familiar with both brands, the recognizable shape of sculptural blazers and ruching of brooch-clad tops will immediately catch your eye as Balenciaga signatures. Gvasalia happily signed off on these.
Balenciaga is not the only label Michele saluted here. In fact, that crystalized human-heart clutch carried by many of the models — offered in yellow and red and held high in silver at the very end of the film — represents the passage of one designer to another and also speaks to the way Tom Ford’s years at Gucci (1990-2004) were echoed on the runway. Look one was a play on the red velvet tuxedo Tom Ford designed for Gwyneth Paltrow at the MTV Music Awards in 1996, and the strobe-lit runway and heavy sex appeal of harnesses and whips also played a part. For that reason, the symbol of the human heart comes to stand for Gucci’s transitions, rebirths, and inspirations. It was the perfect way to celebrate the house’s 100th birthday — even if there was no collaboration after all.
Gucci Joins Vaccination Campaign in Italy
MILAN — The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been slow in Italy and a number of Italian fashion companies are taking steps to help speed up the process.
Gucci on Monday said it was joining an initiative by Italy’s association Confindustria.
As soon as Italian national and regional health regulations allow it, Gucci will open the doors of its corporate offices and facilities to vaccinate more than 6,000 Italian employees, from offices, factories and retail.
“The pandemic challenged all of us with unexpected issues,” said Marco Bizzarri, president and chief executive officer of Gucci. “Since the beginning, we have put people at the center and launched initiatives to protect our communities: from our employees to our suppliers, also offering support to health care professionals and the most vulnerable communities. As the vaccination campaign accelerates, our commitment to the country where Gucci was born — Italy — grows. We are therefore extremely proud to open the doors of our corporate offices and facilities to the vaccination campaign.”
The decision is in line with that of parent company Kering, which is offering its own spaces and those of the other brands of the group operating in Italy.
The initiative is part of the Progetto Prevenzione Attiva [Active Prevention Project], launched in July 2020 in collaboration with Prof. Andrea Crisanti, the University of Padua, the Luiss University of Rome and the Innovation Pole of Genomics, Genetics and Biology of Siena. The project, developed with the aim of further increasing the safety of Gucci’s workplaces, involves voluntary and preventive monitoring of the level of risk of COVID-19 infection to which employees may be exposed. The monitoring may subsequently lead to the implementation of rapid detection measures, such as a free nose and throat swab. This has also been adopted by the other Kering companies in Italy.
View Gallery Related Gallery The 2021 Oscars: See All the Red Carpet Fashion Looks
OVS is also supporting the vaccination campaign by offering its Mestre, Italy, headquarters for the vaccination of its employees in the Veneto region. OVS is setting in its parking lot a structure that will allow the families of its employees and citizens of the area to be vaccinated. In addition, it is subscribing to the initiative promoted by distribution association Federdistribuzione to extend the vaccines to all its stores’ employees in Italy.
Also in the Veneto region, Benetton Group has adhered to the initiative and will vaccinate employees and families in spaces provided by the company and extend this to citizens of the area.
As reported earlier this month, Brunello Cucinelli through his fashion company and the Brunello and Federica Cucinelli Foundation, said he had developed a collaboration with the Umbria region’s administration to create a vaccination center inside the Parco della Bellezza in Solomeo, the restored medieval hamlet that houses the brand’s headquarters.
Cucinelli won’t only offer the location for the center, but will also pay the salaries of the 16 individuals in charge of administering the vaccinations. According to the company, 1,200 people are expected to be vaccinated every week in the center financed by Cucinelli.
Oscars 2021 red carpet: Anatomical heart to red lips, celebs carry clutches in weird shapes
With celebrities finally back on the red carpet at Oscars 2021, the audience was bedazzled with stunning looks — from Regina King’s grand sequin gown to Zendaya’s pretty chiffon attire.
But like in many red carpets, Oscars 2021 also had some weird fashion moments. We are especially talking about some offbeat bags that we got to witness at the event.
Musical artist Celeste Waite, who dressed in a black-and-red outfit, was seen holding a diamond-studded clutch in the shape of a human heart, from Gucci’s Fall 2021 Aria collection runway. In fact, the clutch also featured arteries and valves. Take a look:
Celeste Waite carrying an anatomical heart clutch. (Source: Reuters) Celeste Waite carrying an anatomical heart clutch. (Source: Reuters)
Actor Angela Bassett, on the other hand, caught attention with her shimmering lip-shaped red clutch in red by Judith Leiber. The clutch costs $4295 (Rs 3,20,999.71) on the designer’s official website.
Angela Bassett posed with a red lip-shaped clutch. (Source: Reuters) Angela Bassett posed with a red lip-shaped clutch. (Source: Reuters)
If that was not enough, screenwriter Erica Rivinoja posed on the red carpet in a magenta gown, paired with a shrimp-shaped clutch by Edie Parker. The acrylic bag costs $1495 (Rs 1,11,758.73), on nordstrom.com.
What do you think of the shrimp-shaped bag? (Source: Reuters) What do you think of the shrimp-shaped bag? (Source: Reuters)
What do you think of these novelty clutches?