Alessandro Michele Creates the Indie Film of Your Dreams
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… complete with Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Jeremy O. Harris, Florence Welch and Lu Han — a star cast that would make even Wes Anderson jealous.
In lieu of a fashion show, this season Alessandro Michele opted to show his next Gucci collection in what he called “GucciFest,” a weeklong tribute of episodes dedicated to showcasing what’s to come from Gucci in the upcoming season. The creative director teamed up with Director Gus Van Sant to produce a creative presentation amidst a pandemic that has forced designers to get creative with their reveals in a way that will attract, entertain and excite consumers. Michele has expressed his desire to get away from the traditional fashion calendar and limiting Gucci to two shows per year. The miniseries titled Ouverture of Something That Never Ended debuted last month and gives us insight into the life of an actress living in Italy going about her daily life.
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In the first episode, we follow a woman by the name of Sylvia through a typical day in her life in Rome. She goes about her normal routine of waking up, going to the bathroom, watching TV, etc. She becomes immersed in a sociopolitical discussion that quickly runs (like a train) through topics of intersex, sexuality, race, ableism, creationism, feminism, transgenderism, colonialism, etc. This will become a running theme throughout each episode. She throws Alessandro Michele’s first dress designed for Gucci in 2015 out her window (because apparently, even though she lives in a communal living space, she can’t be bothered to be seen even owning a dress that was designed five years ago). In a subversive, way the dress ties into the sociopolitical discussion.
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The second episode features Sylvia’s day at the cafe. She wears a jersey style crop top paired with a Gucci skirt. As she enters the cafe, it becomes clear that gender-ambiguous dress is going to be a running theme. Clothes aren’t really meant to be gendered, and you can see in many of Michele’s designs that he does not conform to gender norms set by society. Philosophical discussions continue around the cafe about dreams, design and the environment. It’s clear that this is a very retro-inspired (most likely the ‘70s) collection based on the clothing and decor. The episode closes out as Sylvia enters the stage of an empty theater.
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Episode three is based on Sylvia’s trip to the post office. A rather mundane activity, the focus in this episode relies mainly on the shuffling of feet to the echoes of a Gregorian choir. The feet feature a parade of strappy Gucci sandals and shoes. A gentleman in line makes a casual call to close, personal friend Harry Styles, as I also do when I wait in line to send out parcels and such. Together they discuss the creation of art while Harry wanders about a garden in a pink Gucci tee, jorts, mid-calf socks and black leather loafers.
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The fourth scene takes us into the theater we saw in episodes prior. The stage contains an abundance of actors working on choreography and interpretive dance. Sylvia enters a separate room to work on choreography privately with star theater choreographer Jeremy O. Harris. Harris dons a fully buttoned collared shirt with khaki colored oversized pants topped with a white, green and red plaid striped coat. Sylvia is in a glamorous beaded red and green stripe pant, purple beaded halter top and green beaded bolero jacket. As she enters the theater, Sylvia stands apart from other actors in comparatively toned down colors.
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Next we see Sylvia back in her apartment people watching from her window. Her neighbors are engaging in very average activities, such as reading, cleaning, shaving, gardening and laundry. A band practices playing their music in an aqua blue tracksuit and red chiffon blouse. Singer Billie Eilish makes a cameo on TV in a blue and yellow jersey style sweatshirt. The jersey style is quite a prominent look seen in several episodes. Sylvia is in a sheer black top while her neighbor is painting in a chiffon floral gown.
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In episode six, Sylvia takes us on a trip to the local vintage. Wearing a green and yellow Gucci jersey tee and nude slingback heels with socks, she walks into the thrift store that is not actually a thrift store, it’s a Gucci store. One patron is brought to tears by the outdoor mannequins red and pink fur coat. I would cry too if I saw a thrift shop composed of only Gucci clothing. Florence Welch has her directorial debut in a pleated satiny cream dress with matching wide brim floppy hat. She plays the role of an elusive affluent woman dropping little notes into unsuspecting peoples purses, clothes etc., which checks out given how notorious Europe is for pickpocketing. Perhaps these notes are Florence’s magic spells that she uses when she practices witchcraft with her coven. Customers spend their afternoons trying on pink fur coats, red collared shirts, print coats and purses.
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The last episode is a night out on the town with Sylvia. She shows up on the doorstep of Chinese singer Lu Han in a three-piece camel suit. They have an exchange via intercom while Lu is ironing a red dress that he eventually ends up cutting. Sylvia is then met by co-director Gus Van Sant in a red trench coat, who drives her away on a moped scene around urban Italia that seems like it was ripped straight out of The Lizzie McGuire movie. As Gus drops Sylvia off, she finds a flier on the floor with the miniseries recurring phrase “I just want to say that I could never forget the way you told me everything by saying nothing,” lyrics from the song In A Manner Of Speaking by Tuxedomoon from 1985. The scene closes out by Sylvia looking out past the street to reveal that she is on stage looking out to an empty theater.
Given that this miniseries is modeled after an indie film, it leaves a lot left open to interpretation just as fashion does as well. Viewers are given the opportunity to assess the symbolism behind the actors and actresses, the fashion and the discussions among other recurring themes. This was a very welcomed change from the repetitive fashion show we’ve grown accustomed to and provides a new medium to display designs that doubles as a form of entertainment. It will be interesting to see whether other brands follow suit with this type of presentation and how Gucci will further develop this idea.
By Ryán Salamo
Instagram: @astr0man74