For fall/winter 2018, Alessandro Michele’s Gucci was nothing short of a ‘clusterfuck’ – in a loving sense – of carefully calculated inspirations that served as a creative metaphor for how people construct their daily identities; an eerie embodiment of contemporary culture.
The show opened with a stark white model cradling a replica of her own head, the runway embodiment of the self-obsessed, selfie-obsessed times in which we live. The proceeding collection was chalk full of Gucci-in-the-era-of-Alessandro-Michele illusions and cross-cultural meaning. There were Russian babushkas and odes to orientalism, folk-costumes and English tweed, baroque showgirls, Scottish plaid, headscarves and knitted balaklavas. Throughout this 90-look mish-mash of maximalism were Gucci logos galore, as well as the house’s signature delicate florals amidst a smattering of 80s vintage references, businessman suiting, odes to Coco Chanel, Hollywood iconography and New York Yankees-branded apparel and accessories.
After three years at the helm of contemporary fashion’s most buzzed about brand, creative director Alessandro Michele has come to the self-realization that his job is much like that of a surgeon, stitching together references and ideas each season that together, produce thousands of garments and accessories, and in tern, generate hundreds of millions of dollars. In actuality, the show’s hospital set backdrop and underlying analogy to procreation may not have been that far off.
![Gucci fw 2018 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6agiWhMcQoqiq2M2GuW4Kg/687272736245a9b35324d8ae8cc3a2ca/Gucci_FW_2018_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Cecil Beaton
Baba Beaton, A Symphony in Silver, 1925
![Baba beaton a symphony in silver 1925 photographed by cecil beaton](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4aMlRLdx9YIqWkeII2aCc4/c0b2fc8112f9fd48223082221f3044e4/Baba_Beaton_A_Symphony_in_Silver__1925_photographed_by_Cecil_Beaton.jpg)
Andy Warhol
Paramount 352, 1985
![Andy warhol paramount 352 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5ygPSrLSo0YoAWYmCic42A/4dc2a547efb953c6821f295a3fc32bf0/Andy_Warhol_Paramount_352__1985.jpg)
Stephen Posen
Clean Clothes, 1969
Stefano Cerio
Mirabilandia Ravenna, 2017
Miguel Adrover
Top, Early 2000s
![Miguel adrover early 2000s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6CHOjHwWqsU26k06w4Mw4K/7806fdf36eb4204cc7b24beb1ec5fd7d/Miguel_Adrover__Early_2000s.jpg)
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Moscow, Russia, 1561
![Saint basil s cathedral 1561 moscow russia](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2TXAQ7ggNO4W2q0eSaGk8S/a657c894aaa27a4fdcba87ee4bf65b42/Saint_Basil_s_Cathedral__1561__Moscow__Russia.jpg)
John Makepeace
Dorset Fruit Table
![dorset fruit table by john makepeace](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6fJFwmwkNymiG8CyOk00Ma/813f0a6598186490364d7b121d1c696e/_Dorset_Fruit_Table__by_John_Makepeace.jpg)
John Galliano
Dior Couture Fall/Winter 1997
![Dior couture by john galliano fw 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2b7fgvIsaAsw4eqy0EWaiG/5a66ca105162e660acf1855791eae3fc/DIor_Couture_by_John_Galliano_FW_1997_.jpg)
Maison Martin Margiela
Fall/Winter 2002
![Maison margiela fw 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/46KcBqVpt6aMSeeogq6WQ4/b2f755e7f1d4cf12e6dcaf2db07508a3/Maison_Margiela_FW_2002.jpg)
Damien Hirst
Birth (Cyrus), 2006
David Gilhooly
Elephant Foot Stool, 1966
![David gilhooly elephant foot stool 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3tJ87tPX1u2uyaiCay4Yqi/5e3249705e4e52811f83e931ede2bbf1/DAVID_GILHOOLY__Elephant_Foot_Stool__1966.jpg)
David Seymour
Mrs.Peggy Guggenheim at her palace on the Grand Canal, 1950
![David seymour mrs peggy guggenheim in her palace on the grand canal. 1950](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6PjOqbjPG0siOc2WC0CwQe/b5fa84e77d21b3d1c01283a4ec641a82/David_Seymour__Mrs_Peggy_Guggenheim_in_her_palace_on_the_Grand_Canal._1950.jpg)
Louis Bourgeois
Untitled, 2002
![Georgina goodman love shoes and other stories untitled 2002 louise bourgeois](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tmfTtsBnG2u8AE8eqIq0i/e07b2aa38872b35ef48cae3d2c945988/georgina-goodman-love-shoes-and-other-stories-untitled-2002-louise-bourgeois-.png)
Jan Brueghel the Elder
Bouquet, 1599
![Jan brueghel the elder bouquet 1599](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2HvmZ6073qq2s8MsgkOEK4/519b0fde0ec53f6b444fa99a1eff0a81/Jan_Brueghel_the_Elder__Bouquet__1599_.jpg)
Frank Lloyd Wright
Bauhaus Metal Chair Midway, 1914
![Bauhaus metal chair midway by frank lloyd wright 1914](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1xtwERhdd2as4isUM6YIw2/0fbb0fe50e783e0e05249622ebabfe68/Bauhaus_Metal_Chair_Midway_by_Frank_Lloyd_Wright_1914.jpg)
Paul McCarthy
Prop Object (Ken pink head) , 1995–1995
Piero Portaluppi
Casa Portaluppi, 1938–1939
![Piero portaluppi casa portaluppi 1938 39](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2dJyft7MywAIuOawuKsSSu/1d850671743dfd16727e8b6796f976fd/Piero_Portaluppi__Casa_Portaluppi__1938___39.jpg)
Salonikis Synagogue
Tel Aviv, Israel
![Srael 7107 salonikis synagogue in tel aviv](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3U0Q2mXW9amsOMgwasgE8k/23d70bfd00540f4cb74995b7ed180250/srael_7107_salonikis_synagogue_in_tel_aviv.jpeg)
Walter von Nessen
Chair, 1928
![Walter von nessen chair 1928](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7JxQbrEx9Y4goe88YkWYcY/4dcab4699c5c0fa23dbff9832624a1d3/Walter_von_Nessen__Chair__1928.jpg)
References
![Baba beaton a symphony in silver 1925 photographed by cecil beaton](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4aMlRLdx9YIqWkeII2aCc4/c0b2fc8112f9fd48223082221f3044e4/Baba_Beaton_A_Symphony_in_Silver__1925_photographed_by_Cecil_Beaton.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Cecil Beaton
Baba Beaton, A Symphony in Silver, 1925
1 of 21
![Andy warhol paramount 352 1985](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5ygPSrLSo0YoAWYmCic42A/4dc2a547efb953c6821f295a3fc32bf0/Andy_Warhol_Paramount_352__1985.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andy Warhol
Paramount 352, 1985
2 of 21
Stephen Posen
Clean Clothes, 1969
3 of 21
Stefano Cerio
Mirabilandia Ravenna, 2017
4 of 21
![Miguel adrover early 2000s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6CHOjHwWqsU26k06w4Mw4K/7806fdf36eb4204cc7b24beb1ec5fd7d/Miguel_Adrover__Early_2000s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Miguel Adrover
Top, Early 2000s
5 of 21
![Saint basil s cathedral 1561 moscow russia](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2TXAQ7ggNO4W2q0eSaGk8S/a657c894aaa27a4fdcba87ee4bf65b42/Saint_Basil_s_Cathedral__1561__Moscow__Russia.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Moscow, Russia, 1561
6 of 21
![dorset fruit table by john makepeace](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6fJFwmwkNymiG8CyOk00Ma/813f0a6598186490364d7b121d1c696e/_Dorset_Fruit_Table__by_John_Makepeace.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
John Makepeace
Dorset Fruit Table
7 of 21
![Dior couture by john galliano fw 1997](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2b7fgvIsaAsw4eqy0EWaiG/5a66ca105162e660acf1855791eae3fc/DIor_Couture_by_John_Galliano_FW_1997_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
John Galliano
Dior Couture Fall/Winter 1997
8 of 21
![Maison margiela fw 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/46KcBqVpt6aMSeeogq6WQ4/b2f755e7f1d4cf12e6dcaf2db07508a3/Maison_Margiela_FW_2002.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Maison Martin Margiela
Fall/Winter 2002
9 of 21
Damien Hirst
Birth (Cyrus), 2006
10 of 21
![David gilhooly elephant foot stool 1966](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3tJ87tPX1u2uyaiCay4Yqi/5e3249705e4e52811f83e931ede2bbf1/DAVID_GILHOOLY__Elephant_Foot_Stool__1966.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
David Gilhooly
Elephant Foot Stool, 1966
11 of 21
![David seymour mrs peggy guggenheim in her palace on the grand canal. 1950](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6PjOqbjPG0siOc2WC0CwQe/b5fa84e77d21b3d1c01283a4ec641a82/David_Seymour__Mrs_Peggy_Guggenheim_in_her_palace_on_the_Grand_Canal._1950.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
David Seymour
Mrs.Peggy Guggenheim at her palace on the Grand Canal, 1950
12 of 21
![Georgina goodman love shoes and other stories untitled 2002 louise bourgeois](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tmfTtsBnG2u8AE8eqIq0i/e07b2aa38872b35ef48cae3d2c945988/georgina-goodman-love-shoes-and-other-stories-untitled-2002-louise-bourgeois-.png?w=1000&q=70)
Louis Bourgeois
Untitled, 2002
13 of 21
![Jan brueghel the elder bouquet 1599](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2HvmZ6073qq2s8MsgkOEK4/519b0fde0ec53f6b444fa99a1eff0a81/Jan_Brueghel_the_Elder__Bouquet__1599_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jan Brueghel the Elder
Bouquet, 1599
14 of 21
![Bauhaus metal chair midway by frank lloyd wright 1914](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1xtwERhdd2as4isUM6YIw2/0fbb0fe50e783e0e05249622ebabfe68/Bauhaus_Metal_Chair_Midway_by_Frank_Lloyd_Wright_1914.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Frank Lloyd Wright
Bauhaus Metal Chair Midway, 1914
15 of 21
Paul McCarthy
Prop Object (Ken pink head) , 1995–1995
17 of 21
![Piero portaluppi casa portaluppi 1938 39](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2dJyft7MywAIuOawuKsSSu/1d850671743dfd16727e8b6796f976fd/Piero_Portaluppi__Casa_Portaluppi__1938___39.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Piero Portaluppi
Casa Portaluppi, 1938–1939
18 of 21
![Srael 7107 salonikis synagogue in tel aviv](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3U0Q2mXW9amsOMgwasgE8k/23d70bfd00540f4cb74995b7ed180250/srael_7107_salonikis_synagogue_in_tel_aviv.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Salonikis Synagogue
Tel Aviv, Israel
19 of 21
![Walter von nessen chair 1928](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7JxQbrEx9Y4goe88YkWYcY/4dcab4699c5c0fa23dbff9832624a1d3/Walter_von_Nessen__Chair__1928.jpg?w=1000&q=70)