what do you feel about the new Gucci creative director, alessandro michele?
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I am a major fan of Gucci, it has wonderful style and it is also fun and very different. I especial love the Bamboo handle top but my older pieces are amazing also....
I didn't like his work when he first took over as creative director, but now I find Gucci so interesting. I LOVE his Gucci Ghost collaboration. So many pieces I'm interested in.
My wallet tells me I like his work way too much. 
I was ambivalent about Gucci before but Alessandro renewed my interest in the brand. I like what he's doing even though it's not my aesthetic.
I haven't purchased but really enjoy looking at all of the new designs! Very creative and interesting! That said, my conservative-finance-job husband is not a fan. He wants some new Gucci drivers to replace old but they all have the colorful web design and it's too much for him.
I wasn't sure if this article deserved its own thread or nested in one of the Alessandro Michele threads like this one..so I will start here! Please move if needed.
from the Wall Street Journal. Might need a login to view full article; I will paste what i can.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gucci-seeks-to-escape-fashions-boom-bust-1519563600
Gucci Seeks to Escape Fashion’s Boom-Bust
Italian luxury brand working to maintain run of soaring sales under star designer Alessandro Michele
By Matthew Dalton
Updated Feb. 25, 2018 4:16 p.m. ET
MILAN, Italy—Gucci is in the midst of a boom shadowed by the threat of a bust: fickle shoppers falling out of love with the Italian fashion house as quickly as they embraced it.
Gucci has been on a tear since it hired creative director Alessandro Michele three years ago. Sales have risen nearly 80%, hitting €6.2 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2017. Operating profit has more than doubled to €2.1 billion. Mr. Michele’s kaleidoscopic designs—which mix colorful streetwear, historical references and garish animal prints—have been praised by critics and scooped up by shoppers from New York to Beijing.
Last year, Gucci passed Hermès, the fashion house known for its high-price handbags, to become the second-biggest luxury brand by revenue, behind only Louis Vuitton. The brand is flaunted by celebrities and generates buzz on social media. “Gucci Gang,” a single by the 17-year-old rapper Lil Pump, hit no. 3 on the U.S. charts last year.
Yet the boom has led analysts and investors to worry Gucci risks becoming a victim of its own success. As sales continue to grow and other brands increasingly ape Mr. Michele’s designs, they fear Gucci could become overexposed.
“Consumer loyalty is very fickle,” said Luca Solca at Exane BNP Paribas. “There’s a scenario down the road that Gucci is seen too much.”
Gucci executives say they are taking measures to prolong desire for Mr. Michele’s designs. To protect the exclusivity of the brand, Gucci has ended reduced-price sales in its stores. Discounts are only available in the brand’s handful of factory outlets—and only a year after the end of the season in which the clothes first appeared.
But Gucci is also betting that its star designer can develop iconic products that defy fashion’s boom-bust cycle. That is how Louis Vuitton and Hermès manage to sell leather goods, even when fashion trends suddenly turn. Executives say Mr. Michele has developed some products that continue to power the brand. They include the Princetown slipper, the Ace sneaker and the Dionysus handbag.
“People started to question the longevity of the growth already 12 months ago,” Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri said in an interview. “We keep improving our business and our success.”
Gucci is no stranger to sudden shifts in consumer tastes. The brand ruled the catwalk in the 1990s when designer Tom Ford was at the helm. Revenue grew under his successor, Frida Giannini, but toward the end of her tenure, the brand’s sleek styling had lost favor with shoppers.
Under Messrs. Michele and Bizzarri, Gucci rolled out an instantly recognizable look. Mr. Michele’s use of pop culture logos has made his designs a favorite for fashion-savvy Instagram users. Gucci “provides Instagram heaven,” says Helen David, chief merchant at Harrods, the upscale London department store.
The brand consistently rates as among the most mentioned luxury brands on social media, according to Tribe Dynamics, which tracks online buzz.
At last week’s Gucci fashion show in Milan, Mr. Michele’s models wore trench coats and sweaters emblazoned with the logo of the New York Yankees. Others donned knitwear versions of a medieval executioner’s face mask. Two carried silicon-and-plaster reproductions of their own severed heads. Photos of the show posted to Gucci’s Instagram account garnered hundreds of thousands of likes.
“Fashion has followed him,” says Jeffrey Kalinsky, director of designer fashion at Nordstrom. “I don’t know why that wouldn’t continue for a very long time.”
The challenge now facing Gucci is to convert that buzz into appeal that can endure across fashion seasons. Gucci is already investing in store renovations that seek to enshrine Mr. Michele’s status. Sleek minimalist interiors are being replaced with lush décor that reflects Mr. Michele’s flamboyant aesthetic.
Executives say the renovations have produced sharp increases in revenue at the stores where work has been completed—so far only 152 of Gucci’s 529 stores world-wide. Rolling out those renovations across the network should deliver a significant jolt to revenue, executives say.
By creating “continuity” between Mr. Michele’s collections, Gucci aims to insulate the brand from the volatility of ready-to-wear fashion, said François-Henri Pinault, the French billionaire who is chief executive of Gucci’s corporate parent, Kering SA, at an earnings presentation this month.
“There isn’t a ready-to-wear bubble at Gucci,” Mr. Pinault said.
Write to Matthew Dalton at [email protected]
Corrections & Amplifications
Sales have risen nearly 80%, hitting €6.2 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2017. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the dollar value of the sales. Also, an earlier version misstated the name of the Princetown slipper, and incorrectly reported the date of the Gucci fashion show in Milan.
from the Wall Street Journal. Might need a login to view full article; I will paste what i can.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gucci-seeks-to-escape-fashions-boom-bust-1519563600
Gucci Seeks to Escape Fashion’s Boom-Bust
Italian luxury brand working to maintain run of soaring sales under star designer Alessandro Michele
By Matthew Dalton
Updated Feb. 25, 2018 4:16 p.m. ET
MILAN, Italy—Gucci is in the midst of a boom shadowed by the threat of a bust: fickle shoppers falling out of love with the Italian fashion house as quickly as they embraced it.
Gucci has been on a tear since it hired creative director Alessandro Michele three years ago. Sales have risen nearly 80%, hitting €6.2 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2017. Operating profit has more than doubled to €2.1 billion. Mr. Michele’s kaleidoscopic designs—which mix colorful streetwear, historical references and garish animal prints—have been praised by critics and scooped up by shoppers from New York to Beijing.
Last year, Gucci passed Hermès, the fashion house known for its high-price handbags, to become the second-biggest luxury brand by revenue, behind only Louis Vuitton. The brand is flaunted by celebrities and generates buzz on social media. “Gucci Gang,” a single by the 17-year-old rapper Lil Pump, hit no. 3 on the U.S. charts last year.
Yet the boom has led analysts and investors to worry Gucci risks becoming a victim of its own success. As sales continue to grow and other brands increasingly ape Mr. Michele’s designs, they fear Gucci could become overexposed.
“Consumer loyalty is very fickle,” said Luca Solca at Exane BNP Paribas. “There’s a scenario down the road that Gucci is seen too much.”
Gucci executives say they are taking measures to prolong desire for Mr. Michele’s designs. To protect the exclusivity of the brand, Gucci has ended reduced-price sales in its stores. Discounts are only available in the brand’s handful of factory outlets—and only a year after the end of the season in which the clothes first appeared.
But Gucci is also betting that its star designer can develop iconic products that defy fashion’s boom-bust cycle. That is how Louis Vuitton and Hermès manage to sell leather goods, even when fashion trends suddenly turn. Executives say Mr. Michele has developed some products that continue to power the brand. They include the Princetown slipper, the Ace sneaker and the Dionysus handbag.
“People started to question the longevity of the growth already 12 months ago,” Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri said in an interview. “We keep improving our business and our success.”
Gucci is no stranger to sudden shifts in consumer tastes. The brand ruled the catwalk in the 1990s when designer Tom Ford was at the helm. Revenue grew under his successor, Frida Giannini, but toward the end of her tenure, the brand’s sleek styling had lost favor with shoppers.
Under Messrs. Michele and Bizzarri, Gucci rolled out an instantly recognizable look. Mr. Michele’s use of pop culture logos has made his designs a favorite for fashion-savvy Instagram users. Gucci “provides Instagram heaven,” says Helen David, chief merchant at Harrods, the upscale London department store.
The brand consistently rates as among the most mentioned luxury brands on social media, according to Tribe Dynamics, which tracks online buzz.
At last week’s Gucci fashion show in Milan, Mr. Michele’s models wore trench coats and sweaters emblazoned with the logo of the New York Yankees. Others donned knitwear versions of a medieval executioner’s face mask. Two carried silicon-and-plaster reproductions of their own severed heads. Photos of the show posted to Gucci’s Instagram account garnered hundreds of thousands of likes.
“Fashion has followed him,” says Jeffrey Kalinsky, director of designer fashion at Nordstrom. “I don’t know why that wouldn’t continue for a very long time.”
The challenge now facing Gucci is to convert that buzz into appeal that can endure across fashion seasons. Gucci is already investing in store renovations that seek to enshrine Mr. Michele’s status. Sleek minimalist interiors are being replaced with lush décor that reflects Mr. Michele’s flamboyant aesthetic.
Executives say the renovations have produced sharp increases in revenue at the stores where work has been completed—so far only 152 of Gucci’s 529 stores world-wide. Rolling out those renovations across the network should deliver a significant jolt to revenue, executives say.
By creating “continuity” between Mr. Michele’s collections, Gucci aims to insulate the brand from the volatility of ready-to-wear fashion, said François-Henri Pinault, the French billionaire who is chief executive of Gucci’s corporate parent, Kering SA, at an earnings presentation this month.
“There isn’t a ready-to-wear bubble at Gucci,” Mr. Pinault said.
Write to Matthew Dalton at [email protected]
Corrections & Amplifications
Sales have risen nearly 80%, hitting €6.2 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2017. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the dollar value of the sales. Also, an earlier version misstated the name of the Princetown slipper, and incorrectly reported the date of the Gucci fashion show in Milan.
I don't get his RTW to be honest. Looks like copies of clothing from 70's and now the 80's. Don't think it's truly original.
Bags and accessories are okay - although I find it a bit too fussy with all the bugs or snakes.
On the other hand, AM did manage to make people notice Gucci whether it is for good or bad. Shocking use of colours in everything so it's definitely not boring
Bags and accessories are okay - although I find it a bit too fussy with all the bugs or snakes.
On the other hand, AM did manage to make people notice Gucci whether it is for good or bad. Shocking use of colours in everything so it's definitely not boring
I have never been into Gucci, my sister was and still is. As much as I can admire I am yet to buy. Main reason is They r churning out so many styles some of which are a little garish for my taste. The over exposure discussed above is also an issue for me. I'm glad though that Gucci is doing well, going into a store is always a pleasant experience for me.
For the first time in my lifetime, I saw a long lineup at Gucci and no lineup at Chanel last Saturday at Yorkdale mall in Toronto. I wish i took a picture...
And that Gucci store is just womens and only Handbags/SLGs (no shoes) vs. the Chanel is a full boutique!!!
I am a huuge fan of Chanel and Hermes and I never thought I would see the day Gucci would be back but my goodness I. Love. Gucci they are killing it. Gucci got me into ready-to-wear and I love how in the same collection there will be pieces I would wear to brunch with the in-laws or to work (ribbon bow dress) and some stuff is wild and crazy for fun days (gucci logo t shirt with giant embroidered angry cat... sparkly bobby pins on ace sneakers...Logo-ed out cardigan...)
And that Gucci store is just womens and only Handbags/SLGs (no shoes) vs. the Chanel is a full boutique!!!I am a huuge fan of Chanel and Hermes and I never thought I would see the day Gucci would be back but my goodness I. Love. Gucci they are killing it. Gucci got me into ready-to-wear and I love how in the same collection there will be pieces I would wear to brunch with the in-laws or to work (ribbon bow dress) and some stuff is wild and crazy for fun days (gucci logo t shirt with giant embroidered angry cat... sparkly bobby pins on ace sneakers...Logo-ed out cardigan...)
Male perspective here. FWIW - I can't stand 98% of what AM puts out on the in the men's collections. Certainly there seems to be a move toward androgyny in all of high end fashion, and I'm certainly not one to judge/criticize that. But outside of a driving shoe or perhaps some of the old school style scarves/ties I wish they'd move on from him. Just my 2 cents.
I am obsessed with everything Gucci. For example I love Chanel bags and some of the shoes but the clothing can be frumpy at times. I love Balenciaga and a Givenchy clothing and shoes but the bags of right now not so much. Then there is Gucci, I have clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and jewelry that are on my list and every season there is something I love in every category. I think Allesandro is smart enough to know that Gucci has to keep evolving into something a little different than before. I think he has already come up with timeless pieces to add to the iconic loafers that will stand the test of time, like the Princetown mule. Sure, some of the pieces are crazy but isn’t that part of the appeal, they are not really meant for mass production. I am fairly sure that Alessandro doesn’t think we are all going to carry a replica of our heads around town with us, or even a baby dragon.
Wow - line up at Gucci but not at Chanel @ YD??!?! - never seen that before! Yes Gucci is killing it indeed! BTW - love the ribbon bow dress!For the first time in my lifetime, I saw a long lineup at Gucci and no lineup at Chanel last Saturday at Yorkdale mall in Toronto. I wish i took a picture...
I am a huuge fan of Chanel and Hermes and I never thought I would see the day Gucci would be back but my goodness I. Love. Gucci they are killing it. Gucci got me into ready-to-wear and I love how in the same collection there will be pieces I would wear to brunch with the in-laws or to work (ribbon bow dress) and some stuff is wild and crazy for fun days (gucci logo t shirt with giant embroidered angry cat... sparkly bobby pins on ace sneakers...Logo-ed out cardigan...)