bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

IN tune with fashion trends, Gucci is turning back the clock with its accessories.

  'In this collection, Gucci has produced a lot of patent handbags and, for some of the models, the inspiration is from the '50s and early '60s,' said Amelia Leung, the leather goods merchandiser.

  One of the most popular styles is the old-fashioned hand-carry with a grip on top, but, in Gucci's case, with a difference.

  'We make the short-handle handbag but with a detachable shoulder strap so it can be used either way,' Ms Leung said.

  In black, white or red patent, these bags are dressy and formal, with a clean, squarish shape and large metal clasp.

  Some handbags in Gucci's bamboo line also have a two-way strap.

  'The newest style is a drawstring bag that has a short bamboo handle as well as a shoulder strap,' Ms Leung said.

  Other styles have a neat framed shape that gives structure without being rigid and both the handle and the tongue of the zip closure are crafted from bamboo.

 There are a variety of suede handbags.

     A three-in-one bag has a leather and suede shell that snaps off to reveal a small satin clutch bag, allowing a change from day to evening easy.

  Ms Leung said that, in Hong Kong, Gucci sold more of the smaller bags, although the world trend was towards larger ones.

   'We have white, beige, a light pink called shrimp, a light powder and periwinkle, which is like violet,' she said.

  These are in addition to the basic year-round colours - black, camel, navy and red.

  A multi-coloured patchwork design with Gucci motifs also features on casual duffel bags.

  Colours for shoes follow those of the leather handbags. The main materials are calf and suede, the latter being popular in summer in a colourful array of loafers.

  Patent is also used for both shoes and sandals, mainly in basic black, white and red but with a small showing of bright shades, such as yellow.

  The trend is either for flat shoes or for medium-to-high heels.

 'For the flat heel, we have the classic Gucci loafer with the horse bit and a new loafer with the bamboo ornament to go with the handbag,' Ms Leung said.

 Another new style has a stitched-in Gucci logo and is also available with a medium-height heel.

  The move towards more feminine footwear that began last season continues with a line of high-heeled strappy sandals in both calf and patent, trimmed with the Gucci horse-bit or signature stripe.

  One of the most popular styles is the thong, which is like the Japanese slipper worn with the kimono. Besides the traditional flat thong, there is a medium-height stiletto version that can be worn with Gucci's informal evening wear.

  Thongs come in either two-tone calf leather or one-tone patent. Some styles have the horse-bit ornament, which also adorns some high-heeled mules and backless stiletto slip-on shoes. Black-and-white and two-tone are also strong in these lines.

  'We expect good sales of thongs as well as patent pumps, like Cinderella shoes with a pointed toe and a narrow heel of about 21/2 centimetres,' Ms Leung said.

 Silk-scarf prints are more feminine.

  Women's wear merchandiser Paula Cheung said they were mainly florals and 'we have a beautiful one that says Gucci in flowers'.

 Another print features pots of flowers with a border and a third has an array of sunflowers.

  These prints turn up in the ready-to-wear collection on matte-finish silk gazar.

  'It is a crisp taffeta-like silk. In the Gucci flowers and the flower pots, it looks like silk but, in the sunflower-print pants, people seem to think it is linen,' Ms Cheung said.

  Besides trousers, scarf prints flow through a variety of garments, including knits, shift dresses and soft '40s-style full skirts that tie at the hips and fall to mid-calf. These are designed to be worn with cropped tops.

  Much of the silhouette this season is influenced by the '40s and '50s, including Gucci's new range of suits in an unlined terry-cloth fabric that gives more ease to a structured look.

  'Suits have a smaller waist and a more defined, more distinct shoulder. The new length for the skirts, is just below the knee,' Ms Cheung said.

  'We also have some thin belts that can be worn on top of jackets.'   The pencil-line skirts are cut on the bias and the jacket sleeves stop short of the wrist.

  Featured colours are black and pink.

  Other strong colours are navy and white, in the Cruise line, black and white and pastels.

  'Our jodhpurs are very sporty in a black-and-white check,' Ms Cheung said. 'We had pedal-pushers for the show but, for production, we made them a bit longer.'   For day or evening, red makes its mark in a soft suede jacket and two suede dresses, one sleeveless and the other with a halter neckline.

   Alternatively, there are metallic tops in silver or navy for nights on the town.

  Casual wear includes a continuation of last summer's pyjama look: drawstring trousers, shorts and short-sleeved pyjama tops.



Gucci builds versatility with dual-use handles