Oh and the peacock feathered suit was killer. See it, and our other favorite looks from backstage at the presentation, below.
Through collaboration, the Italian luxury house and London streetwear brand overcome what, at first glance, is a clash of worlds. This collection thrives not on divergence but convergence, a mirror of approaches, obsessions, and meanings that unify the two brands in a single aesthetic expression.
The streetwear brand born and raised in the twenty-first century, Palace, honors Gucci’s legacy through various pieces while highlighting both brands creative direction. The collection encompasses accessories and clothing for all genders - including Palace’s debut of women’s ready-to-wear designs. The meeting of styles and morphing of creative minds inherent to Palace Gucci created two different realities melded into one. The collection will be retailed online from October 21st exclusively through Gucci Vault, the concept store launched by Gucci. For the first time since its creation, Vault will move into physical form, through pop-up stores in Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Osaka, and Bangkok, as well as takeovers of Palace stores in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo.
By fusing the iconic double-G of Gucci with Palace’s unforgettable Tri-Ferg, the merging of brands is materialized. Gucci's notorious Horsebit loafer, a wardrobe staple for the international jet setter, has been revamped with the addition of Palace's "P" charm. Palace’s staples are all present while Gucci’s heritage is reimagined, through items like the classic monogram redone in bubblegum pink. High-end streetwear mixes surprisingly well with the classic Italian fashion house in a collab rooted firmly in the unthinkable.
Taking it a step further, Palace's obsession with motorcycle culture is honored in the collection as they involve MOTO GUZZI. The three staple brands blend together to create biker-style pieces that involve the Palace Gucci monogram and the Moto name. A collaboration so dreamy, You have to see it to believe it.
Allesandro Michele continues to excite fans with unexpected collabs and cameos, especially in the collection reveal. A loop of absurdity envisioned by Max Siedentopf created the perfect campaign video in an out-of-this-world and weirdly down-to-earth experience. Highlighting the personas of the rodeo, road, earth, outer space, skate, and sport break status-quo. Capturing surreal scenes, impossible exchanges – humanity, aliens, and the real versus the unreal.
There are few designers who can create work with punk rock references and remain elegant, and Simons seems to have the analytical brain built just for the challenge. He understands the ethos of rave culture and channels it into high-quality tailoring and a refined, obviously well thought-out palate that echoes all that is techno without being derivative or obvious.
Though we can't say Simons surprised us in a significant way with the SS23 collection, we're perfectly satisfied. He gave us Raf, he threw us a rave, and he executed what he does well with flying (neon) colors.
How does it feel seeing your clothes walk down the runway right now?
Um, I mean emotional. I’ve been working on the collection for over 8 months, which is the longest I’ve done. And I just wanted to let it out. Just really really wanted to put it out, so yea, it feels emotional more than anything.
You once did an interview where you said sometimes you’re just getting season by season, tell me about the feeling of making it this next season and being an independent designer and just thugging it out.
Yeah, it took me a break to get here. I didn't show last season because I wanted to put all of my energy into this. I had been doing shows for some while and I stopped and so I wanted to focus on making one of the biggest shows I’ve done so far. As far as the number of looks the team behind me and yea it felt more like that emotion and just like putting it out there really.
Can you talk to me about the sequins on some of the looks that I saw...
Yeah, that’s Allie Smith she's a make up artist, and yea I started working with a lot of metal embellishments on the clothes and so she picked that up and then started just doing the face make up to go with it. A lot of what I do derives from counter culture so the idea of having a skull is a very punk sort’ve aesthetic.
And lastly, this punk aesthetic that runs through the pieces you have, you’re currently wearing a Panic at the Disco top, tell me about some of your punk influences...
O.M.G. so Panic at the Disco, right? I mean um, there’s so many. Just so many. And it changes. Sometimes it’s punk, sometimes it's emo. There was a lot of emo references as well if you saw some of the models. It sort’ve changes, sometimes its rock & roll but it always remains in the subversive dark counter culture youth emphasized music really
And what’s your favorite Panic at the Disco song?
All of them.
