WHO would have thought that in 2018, severed heads would be the fashion? But that is exactly what Gucci incorporated into their AW18 coed collection during Milan Fashion Week. The shows entirety was a bingo card of unusual objects that we were slowly ticking off. Severed head? Check. Chameleon? Check. Duster-bag? Check. Aside from the strange array of props, the collection itself still had us questioning what was the inspiration and how it worked in cohesion?
Clear inspiration from various eras in fashion history can be recognised, as ‘80s shoulder pads, ‘20s beaded embroidery and ‘60s checked skirt-suits all make an appearance. Notable trends, coinciding with other brand collections, are also notable in Gucci’s AW18 collection. Retro sneakers and embellished-dad trainers appeal to contemporary street-style fashion and the eclectic mix of clashing prints is used in abundance is in keeping with AW18 trends.
Granny and geek chic are both attributes to the collections overall aesthetic, as many models wore garish knit jumpers and spectacles along with boxy suits, juxtaposing the undertones of pop culture and youth iconography the collection portrays. Floral head-scarfs and folk prints even a hint to a Russian babushka influence thrown in the mix, for good measure.
Androgyny plays a major role in the collection also, with women sporting oversized blazers and men sporting short shorts. Gucci takes the androgynous aesthetic, wildly popular among countless designers, further with the addition of knitted balaclavas and masks to disguise the face. Although colour comes by the bucket load, the signature Gucci tones of Red and Green dominates the runway and as the collection draws to a close, we are able to tick off one more item in our game of strange bingo. Snake? Check.
by Todd Burns
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.