After Frida Giannini’s early departure from Gucci, the brand has announced their new Creative Director!

Frida’s successor is none other than the 42-year-old Alessandro Michele, whose debut collection will be the Autumn/Winter 15-16 Women’s Ready-To-Wear, that is to be presented on 25 February during Milan Fashion Week.

Michele studied at Accademia di Costume e di Moda in Rome, and joined Fendi as Senior Accessories Designer after that. In 2002, he moved to Gucci’s Design Office, and was promoted to the role of Frida’s Associate designer in May 2011. In September last year, he was appointed Creative Director of Richard Ginori, a renowned Italian fine porcelain brand acquired by Gucci in June 2013. 

President and CEO of Gucci, Marco Bizzari comments that “Allesandro’s talent and his knowledge of the company and the design teams in place for sure allow him to move quickly and seamlessly in implementing his new creative direction for the collections and the brand. The Gucci Men’s Autumn/Winter 2015-16 collection presented on 19 January, which was realised thanks to a remarkable collaboration between the men’s design and production teams, is a clear indication that the brand is ready to take a new direction”

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering (formerly the PPR group, which owns Gucci and various other luxury brands) said “Alessandro Michele has both the qualities and the vision necessary to bring a new contemporary perspective to Gucci and lead the brand into an exciting new creative chapter of its history”. 

Well, with only just over a month before Alessandro Michele presents his collection to the fashion world at Milan Fashion Week, I can only imagine the mad rush and round-the-clock hours that he has to put in!

Though Tom Ford really revived Gucci from being close to oblivion, I thought that his designs had too much sex appeal. While I really love Gianini’s designs by taking Gucci into a more commercial direction, I really can’t wait to see what Michele has in store for us!  Who else is excited?

Image courtesy of Ronan Gallagher for Gucci