Gucci Pre-FALL 2012

NEW YORK, January 12, 2012

By Nicole Phelps

Frida Giannini has gotten a lot of celebrity mileage out of her ode to the Jazz Age. Just last night, Emma Stone took home a People's Choice Award in a cropped green tux and fitted black pants from Gucci's Spring collection. The designer's follow-up for pre-fall is a good deal more subdued, almost minimal at times. A pansy print has replaced black and gold bugle beads, and the silhouette has been significantly loosened up. We can't remember seeing a boxy knit turtleneck or a maxi skirt from Giannini before. Oversize coats looked new, too, but they're in keeping with the overall direction of the season. Same goes for the collection's equestrian undercurrent. Plenty of designers are feeling horsey for pre-fall, but few can claim a riding heritage like Gucci's. The furs should find plenty of fans, especially a natural fox jacket inlaid with a black and white chevron design—nothing minimalist about that.