STYLE Edit: Alessandro Michele dives into the Gucci archives for his Fall Winter 1970s-inspired bags
Creative director Alessandro Michele’s Fall Winter bag collection takes inspiration from the brand’s archives – the Sylvie 1969 and the Zumi bag stand out — and there’s a multi-functional backpack for men
“Gucci Grey” is creative director Alessandro Michele’s key colour of the season, with the hope that these grey tones will add a timeless quality to one’s wardrobe. The vintage theme we have seen in Michele’s collections since his appointment to the house four years ago is still imbued in the Fall Winter 2019 bag collection, with inspiration and sometimes direct designs found in the house archives dating back to the 1970s.
The framed torchon Double G Ring hardware, for instance, was found on a Gucci bag from the 1970s archives and makes its 2019 debut in this season’s new handbag. For even more vintage allure, these bags come with a silk scarf wrapped around the shoulder strap. The detachable scarf varies from bag to bag, but each scarf depicts motifs from the Fall Winter collection and constitutes a piece of art all on their own.
The new bag’s boxy construction is offset with the silk detail, soft suede and leather finishes, as well as the rich evocative tones of earthy red, black and dusty grey.
The Sylvie 1969 has been redesigned this season with a thinner chain detail down the centre of its front flap. Most eye-catching is the new Sylvie Mini, with its frame and top-handle made from unorthodox candy-coloured Plexiglas.
The shiny new Sylvie Minis are available in pop pink, white and light pastel green Plexiglas. They also come with their own detachable Marina chain straps on the handle, in addition to all the other glossy gold-toned hardware accents of the original Sylvie.
The Gucci Zumi handbag, named after the LA-based actress and experimental musician Zumi Rosow, also gets a face-lift this season with the new go-to grey tones – in grainy or smooth leather, python, elaphe and crocodile.
The interlocking G and Horsebit in gold and silver finish made quite a statement when the Zumi bag was revealed in the 2019 Spring Summer collection. The motif fortunately perseveres in this season’s range, but it is most striking in the Gucci Zumi snakeskin mini bucket bag. The rock grey, beige and white tones of the Hardwick snakeskin work incredibly well with the modern mix of metals in the Gucci hardware.