CHANNELING GUCCI FOR LESS

August 20, 2017 by Mary Cate Smith

CHANNELING GUCCI FOR LESS THAN A PENNEY’S HAUL

Sex, Snakes and Cloisters; no, it’s not the new Medieval-era Netflix original set to replace Game of Thrones, but rather Suzy Menkes’ apt catchphrase for Alessandro Michele’s Cruise 2017 collection for Gucci. It’s no exaggeration to say that Michele has thrown all Gucci’s previous toys out of the pram, and when I say toys, I mean Tom Ford’s oversexed Malibu Barbies and Frida Giannini’s inoffensively vanilla American Girl Dolls and replaced them with a sort of superhero-meets-librarian real-girl icon we can all get on board with. Re-defining sexy, Michele’s muse is cultured; brimming with intelligence, contradiction and emotional depth. And I couldn’t have put it better than Menkes, when she said that under Michele, Gucci represents the ‘re-birth of desire.’ Aren’t we all a little tired of the ever-rotating sartorial wheel of shoulder-baring, cleavage-clouting, mid-riff grazing bare-it-all outfits that does anything but scream ‘professional woman in her mid 30s?’ Channeling Gucci for less is high on every style maven’s wish-list so here’s how to do it on a very limited budget.

CHANNELING GUCCI FOR LESS WITH FLORA AND FAUNA INSPIRED PRINTS

Snakes and tigers and bears, oh my! From bee-stung loafers, chinoiserie birds of paradise prints and slithering serpents, the first step to channeling Gucci for less is to get on board with the animal world. Combining traditionally feminine details like lace with the most ferocious animals of the jungle is the kind of paradox that runs deep through Gucci’s veins. My top is from TK Maxx and it’s in stores now. It’s not just the fauna that’s tickling Michele pink, he’s also a big fan of the flora – but not as you know it. Wilting wallflowers and ditsy tea-print florals need not apply. We’re talking exotic oriental jacquards, weeping willows and giant blooms from the so-called ‘Gucci Garden’ and slogan-heavy silks juxtaposing high and low dressing in the way that Michele does so well. Here’s my favourite Gucci-inspired tops from the high street. You’ll be channeling Gucci for less in no time.

Claw Tee, €29 2.Tiger top, €65 3. 4. Embroidered top, €40 4. Corset tee, €32 5. Tiger hoodie, €50 6. cheetah top, €27, tiger top, €49 Peplum lace, €50

2. CHANNELING GUCCI FOR LESS WITH A JAUNTY BERET AND TROPICAL ACCESSORIES A GO-GO

Berets are synonymous with Gallic sophistication and French-girl chic. Not the Gucci beret. Ever breathing new life into timeless classics, Michele’s beret is a blank canvas upon which jewels are piled high. In the words of nonagenarian starlet Iris Apfel, ‘more is more and less is a bore.’ I added some Topshop brooches to mine to create an eccentric just-rooted-through-my-treasure-chest look. Vintage brooches would work a treat but if you can’t find any antiques and you want to save a few bucks, check out these brooches and berets I picked from the high street. Ahoy, fellow magpies – it’s our time to shine!

SHOP MY STYLE – BERETS

1. Eyelet beret, €6.50, 2. Pierced beret, €27, 3. Taupe beret, €24, 4. Wool beret, €14

VINTAGE-INSPIRED BROOCHES

Mica Peet brooch, Feather brooch, Eye brooches, M&S vintage mocking bird brooch

3. CHANNELING GUCCI FOR LESS WITH PLEATS, PLEASE

Until Michele took the reigns at Gucci, pleated skirts had been tarnished with the twee school uniform connotations we’d all banished to the back of our minds. Pleats and midi length seems like a bit of a risk but do it the Gucci way and the pay-off is tenfold. My skirt is from TK Maxx (I’m selling it on my Depop) but here’s my high street faves, from €20.