I know what I’m doing Thanksgiving week – watching GucciFest.
Unlike Pradapalooza, Versacecon, or Coachella, GucciFest is not made up. I should clarify that the Coachella I have in my imagination is a departure from the one in the desert.
No, friends: GucciFest is a short film series released last week by creative director Alessandro Michele and filmmaker Van Sant, seven mini-films in all, in lieu of a traditional Spring/Summer 2021 collection. Titled Ouverture for Something That Never Ended, It’s packed with cameos (Harry Stiles, Florence Welch, and Billie Eilish, to name a few) and has the fashion community buzzing.
GucciFest has significance outside of its arthouse appeal – it’s a product of the paradigm shift we’ve seen in the fashion community since March. Many designers issued statements of intent of noncompliance to the traditional, notoriously wasteful, fashion cycle, Michele the bellwether with his highly public, intricately poignant posts on Instagram (a platform not usually noted for the latter).
Since the onset of COVID, we’ve seen more creativity in presentations than ever before – remember Valentino’s suspended models, or Schiaparelli’s sketches from couture week? While it downright stinks to not have the buzz of the traditional runway show, the changes imposed by COVID have shown the fashion world that the old model was not the only way – and it was a model long criticized for its carbon footprint, taxed supply chains, and strain on designers.
Has Michele ushered in a new era of fashion film? Maybe – it’s one of many possible futures for fashion after COVID.
But for now, my plan is to sit back and enjoy Harry Stiles in a pair of denim cutoffs. Because why not?
And LUCKY YOU! I’ve included all seven films from GucciFest below so you can take it alllll in. Thank me later.
GucciFest: Ouverture for Something That Never Ended
Gucci’s Spring/Summer 2021 Offering, by Alessandro Michele and Van Sant
Episode 1: At Home
Episode 2: At the Cafe
Episode 3: At the Post Office
Episode 4: The Theatre
Episode 5: The Neighbours
Episode 6: The Vintage Shop
Episode 7: The Nightly Walk
If you watch them, let me know what you think – and if you’d like a rundown of the films here on the blog!
love,
Stig
Info via Vogue, InStyle, and Gucci. Photos from Gucci via Vogue Runway.
