THE GUCCI MAN

Gucci has been at the forefront of men’s fashion since Alessandro Michele’s appointment as creative director in 2015, so it comes as no surprise that they are the leaders in reigning the way men dress.

Since Michele became the chief in design, Gucci’s menswear has moved towards a more androgynous style. This trend was debuted in February 2015, with Michele’s vision of Gucci reinvented through the lens of the feminine man. With red pussy bow silk shirts, ruffled sleeves, maroon berets and loafers, the Gucci Fall show of 2015 marked the rejuvenation of Gucci menswear as we had previously known it.

Geek Chic hit the runway in 2017, with Michele designing oversized glasses, embellished blazers and more pussy bow shirts. Previous creative director Tom Ford had made Gucci renowned for hyper-sexualised clothing, from deep v-neck shirts to underwear briefs being modelled at his exit show. The vast contrast between the two styles posed the question: what makes men’s clothing sexy? Michele would argue that showing femininity makes men more masculine, while Tom Ford has been quoted that he is an “equal objectifier”, in which he is as happy to objectify men as he is objectifying women. It is clear that while sex sells, Alessandro Michele’s clothing is appealing to a wider audience of several sexual orientations, all the while challenging gender stereotypes.

Since his appointment, Gucci has developed a cult following among celebrities known for their quirky styles. Two pop stars who often have Gucci items custom made for their public appearances are none other than Harry Styles and Billie Eilish. While Eilish’s signature style is oversized, baggy clothing often covered in the Gucci logo, Styles’s is much more of an androgynous aesthetic. In 2018, Styles featured in Gucci’s Men’s Tailoring campaign video. He can be seen visiting a local fish and chips shop, dressed shirtless in a pinstripe suit with a blue check blazer layering the outfit. This look is accompanied by a necklace and several rings, along with a live chicken as a prop.

Since then, Styles has taken a more daring approach to his aesthetic. In 2019 at the iconic Met Gala which was themed Camp, Styles wore a sheer black blouse completed with a pussy bow, accompanied by black tailored trousers, a drop pearl earring and a fresh manicure, with heeled leather Gucci shoes finishing off the look. Actor Jared Leto also boasted a more androgynous style, wearing a custom red silk gown, and accessorised with a jewel body chain, along with a bust replica of his own head.

Gucci’s Fall 2020 menswear collection was blossoming with many of Michele’s signature looks: dresses, extravagant androgynous tailored suits and of course, layers upon layers of block coloured items. With more men wearing gender bending clothes, and women often purchasing from Gucci’s menswear, it is clear that feminine and androgynous style for men is one that has taken the world by storm, and as far as the celebrity world is concerned, it is here to stay.