Gucci, then and now

The world-renowned Italian fashion house may now be the height of maximalist design, but Gucci was born as a simple leather goods shop.

While working as a porter at London’s famous Savoy Hotel, the label’s founder, Guccio Gucci, fell in love with luxurious suitcases. He returned to his hometown of Florence, and in 1921, he opened his eponymous leather goods store in Florence. 

By the 1960s, Gucci had become a firm staple in international celebrity and socialite wardrobes: First Lady Jackie Kennedy was a fan of a slouchy Gucci purse, which was renamed “The Jackie” in her honour; and Rodolfo Gucci had an Italian illustrator design a floral scarf especially for Princess Grace Kelly. That print, known as Flora, became a Gucci signature that appears across the label today. Celebrities including Brie Larson, Emma Stone and Kourtney Kardashian have all donned the print in recent years. 

Credit: Emma Stone in Flora. Image courtesy of Getty Images. 

We like the Gucci Gg Flora Jersey Jacket, $2080, which features both the Flora print and the red and green stripes. It’s 20 per cent off the regular price, and for a limited time you can take a bonus 15 per cent off at checkout. 

The 1970s and ’80s saw in-fighting and mismanagement bring Gucci to the brink of bankruptcy, and inspired the upcoming film House of Gucci. The film, about the sensational murder of Maurizio Gucci, stars Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, and has sparked huge demand for vintage Gucci.

Instagram- @ladygaga

In the ’90s, the appointment of Tom Ford as creative director infused the label with a contemporary sex appeal that saw Gucci’s popularity and influence skyrocket. 

Two decades later, in 2015, Alessandro Michele reimagined Gucci, turning it into a truly Italian maximalist label, influenced by pop culture, fairytales, the mystic and history, and featuring vibrant colours, crystals, ruffles, intricate stitching and hidden meanings. 

He quickly garnered a legion of devoted celebrity followers, including Harry Styles, Brie Larson, Alessandra Ambrosio, Rita Ora, Chloe Grace Moretz and Elle Fanning.

Credit: Harry Styles and Alessandro Michele. Image courtesy of Getty.

His constantly surprising and challenging fashion collections don’t stand alone. Michele directed the construction of Gucci Garden in Florence’s historic Palazzo della Mercanzia, where Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, a restaurant decorated in Gucci, sits alongside a boutique and a museum. He has also curated art exhibitions and events, all infused with his signature colourful approach.

Credit: Michele’s art installation, Gucci Tian, 2015. Image courtesy of Jeff Yiu.

One of his most successful events was last year’s GucciFest, a digital fashion film festival of which the highlight was the seven-part miniseries, Ouverture of Something That Never Ended, co-directed by filmmaker Gus Van Sant and Michele and featuring brand ambassadors Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Jeremy O. Harris and Florence Welch. 

Under Michele’s leadership, Gucci also released a game-changing collaboration (they called it a “hack”) with Balenciaga and a genre-bending campaign with James Cordon’s The Late Late Show that featured ambassadors – including Awkwafina, Serena Williams and Dakota Johnson – clutching Gucci bags in fake clips from the show. 

Courtesy- Gregoire Avenel for Gucci

Among all this revolution within the brand, some things, such as the Gucci loafer, remain. Beloved by everyone from executives to rockstars for more than five decades, the Gucci loafer – with its famous horsebit detail – is a wardrobe staple for the stylish man or woman. 

Credit: Wiz Khalifa in Gucci loafers.  Image courtesy of Getty Images. 

We have the simple yet elegant Gucci Web Horsebit Leather Loafers for $832, a 20 per cent discount off the original price (plus, take an extra 10 per cent off for a limited time), as well as the Gucci Gg Canvas Horsebit Loafers at $872, a 20 per cent discount (with a bonus 15 per cent off for a limited time).

Men can also look to apparel like this Gucci Striped Cotton Shirt with its sweet bee logo, just $890 at Estro – a whopping 50 per cent off the regular price. Plus, take at extra 25 per cent off at the checkout for a limited time. 

Prefer your accessories to have a functional nature? The Gucci G-Timeless Watch, 38mm, features the Kingsnake print running across the face and the strap, and packs just as much of a punch as the necklace. Plus, it’s just $970 at Estro – a saving of 29 per cent – with an extra 25 per cent off at checkout for a limited time. 

Feel like your wardrobe needs a little more Gucci in it? Visit ESTRO LUXURY DESIGNER OUTLET to find your favourite designer fashion at outlet prices. 

- By Hannah Warren