STYLE Edit: Gucci’s Cruise 2020 collection takes inspiration from togas, medieval art – and Mickey Mouse

It was like being transported to a different era: think medieval art and togas. But with Mickey Mouse also making an appearance.

Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele’s fascination with the “Old World” was evident at the Italian luxury fashion and leather goods brand’s Cruise 2020 show, which took place at the Palazzo Nuovo at the historic Capitoline Museum in Rome.

The runway was surrounded with medieval and Renaissance period artwork and ancient Roman artefacts – the perfect setting for Michele’s Roman-inspired collection.

Gucci Cruise collections are often situated in historic sites, such as the June 2016 Cruise 2017 show at London’s Westminster Abbey or last year’s Cruise 2019 show in Promenade Des Alyscamps in Arles.

For this year’s show, the Italian fashion designer took inspiration from the quote of Paul Veyne, the French historian and archaeologist, who specialises in ancient Roman history: “Only pagan antiquity awakened my desire, because it was the world of before, because it was an abolished world.”

Michele made reference to the past with silhouettes that were reminiscent of Roman tunics, himations or voluminous, draped togas.

Clergy-inspired clothing was also seen on the runway with elaborate detailing, together with forms of familiar clerical dress. The cassock-inspired looks were kept in the original austere black, but embellished with fur lining and embroidery.