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Alessandro Michele, a name deeply intertwined with Gucci, the famous Italian luxury fashion house, has made an incredible impact with his imaginative and playful vision.
Born in Rome in 1972, Alessandro Michele went on to become one of the most influential and celebrated designers of the 21st century. A true fashion icon, he has etched his unique identity onto the fashion world. He’s famed for his bold, romantic, and gender-blurring style that challenges the status quo.
But who is Alessandro Michele, and what makes him so unique and successful? Let’s find out!
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14 Interesting Facts About Alessandro Michele
Photo: @versacesworld | Instagram
Here are some things you should know about Alessandro Gucci, one of the most important Italian fashion designers today.
1. His artistic parents inspired him to be a fashion designer
Alessandro Michele drew his inspiration from his creative parents, who exposed him to the world of cinema, sculpture, and antiques since he was a kid. His heart beats for history, art, and culture, and you can see that love in every collection he creates.
Michele honed his skills in costume design at the Accademia di Costume e di Moda in Rome, mastering the art of crafting both theatrical costumes and fashionable attire.
2. In his youth, he was into London’s post-punk and New Romantic street fashion
In his teenage years, he developed a fondness for the post-punk and New Romantic street fashion of London. No wonder his design style became known for its eclecticism, flamboyance, and maximalism, drawing from various sources like cinema, theatrics, post-punk, crochet, and glamor, creating a unique and almost psychedelic aesthetic.
3. He calls himself an “art archaeologist” or a “historicist of garments”
Alessandro Michele prefers to call himself an “art archaeologist” or a “historicist of garments.” He believes that clothing gains significance when understood within a historical context.
Michele delves into the historical use of ornamentation and decoration, creating a vibrant blend of eras and cultures that aligns with the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s concept of “assemblage.”
4. Michele is openly gay and has a long-time partner
Alessandro Michele’s partner is Giovanni Attili, a professor of urban planning at the Sapienza University of Rome. They met on Myspace and have been in a long-term relationship since.
Alessandro Michele is openly gay and has expressed his love for his partner through his designs. For example, he made a pendant for Attili from a plaited lock of his hair and decorated it with pearls.
Michele and Attili live in Rome.
5. Tom Ford invited Michele to join Gucci
Photo: @tomford | Instagram
Alessandro Michele joined Gucci in 2002, invited by Tom Ford, who was then the creative director of the brand. He initially worked in the London-based design office, focusing on handbag designs.
In 2006, he became the senior designer of Gucci leather goods, and in 2011, he was promoted to associate creative director to Frida Giannini, who succeeded Ford as the creative director of Gucci in 2005.
6. His appointment as Gucci’s creative director was a surprise for many
Michele became the creative director of Gucci in January 2015, after Giannini and her partner Patrizio di Marco left the company abruptly. Michele was a relatively unknown figure at the time, and his appointment surprised many in the fashion world.
The person who saw something special in Michele was Marco Bizzarri, the new CEO of Gucci. He believed that Michele had this incredible talent to take Gucci’s heritage and values and give them a fresh, exciting spin.
This bold move shook up the fashion scene, and it turned out to be a game-changer for the Italian fashion house.
7. He had only five days to create his first collection for Gucci
He made his debut as the creative director of Gucci with the men’s fall/winter 2015-16 collection, which he had only five days to create. He introduced a “new Gucci: nonconformist, romantic, intellectual,” which broke the rules, oozed romance, and celebrated intellect.
8. He brought Gucci back into the spotlight
Alessandro Michele influence extends beyond the runway, as he’s been recognized for rejuvenating Gucci’s popularity and relevance, and shaking up the fashion industry’s norms.
With a visionary and innovative approach, he’s transformed Gucci into a brand that’s both timeless and in sync with the times, mirroring the spirit and diversity of our era.
9. He designed Elton John’s wardrobe for the singer’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour
Elton John is a huge Gucci fan. He was so devoted to the brand that he had Alessandro Michele design his outfits for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which lasted for over five years and included a whopping 330 shows.
Michele designed 16 different Gucci suits for the acclaimed British singer to rock during this epic journey.
10. He has collaborated with many other celebrities and artists
Photo: @alessandro_michele | Instagram
He’s had the pleasure of working alongside a fabulous array of celebrities and artists, including the likes of Jared Leto, Harry Styles, Lana Del Rey, Florence Welch, Björk, Dapper Dan, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé.
What’s more, he’s created some truly stunning outfits for high-profile events like the Met Gala, the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Super Bowl.
You might remember some of his standout creations like Harry Styles’ iconic blue Gucci dress that graced the December 2020 cover of Vogue, Lady Gaga’s elegant periwinkle gown at the 2019 Golden Globes, Rihanna’s dazzling crystal-embellished bodysuit for Coachella 2018, and Jared Leto’s unforgettable look at the 2019 Met Gala.
11. He has received several awards
In 2015, Alessandro Michele received a prestigious honor – the International Fashion Designer Of The Year Award at the British Council Fashion Awards. This recognition marked a significant achievement in their career and set the stage for what was to come.
The following year, in 2016, Michele was recognized at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, a testament to their remarkable talent. He also clinched the International Accessories Designer of the Year Award at the British Council Fashion Awards. To top it off, he was honored with the GQ Men Of The Year Award for best designer.
As we move forward to 2017, Alessandro Michele’s reputation continued to soar. He got listed in Hypebeast’s prestigious HB100, an acknowledgment of his significant impact on the fashion world. Notably, he was also named in the Time 100 Most Influential People list.
These accolades speak to the incredible talent and dedication of our celebrated fashion designer.
12. He has also worked with other major brands
Alessandro Michele’s career is quite diverse and exciting. He’s not only made his mark at Gucci (and even had that cool collaboration with Adidas), but he’s also been a part of other fantastic brands.
In 1994, he took off from Rome to join Les Copains, an Italian knitwear company in Bologna.
Fast forward three years, and he was rubbing shoulders with fashion legends like Silvia Venturini Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi.
He even worked with Frida Giannini and held the prestigious role of senior accessories designer, overseeing their leather goods.
In 2014, after Gucci acquired the Florentine porcelain brand Richard Ginori in 2013, Michele took on yet another creative challenge. This time, he brought his artistic flair to the world of tableware, vases, and decorative pieces, adorning them with beautiful floral motifs and historical touches.
13. He left Gucci after almost 8 years with the brand
Michele stepped down from his role as the creative director of Gucci in November 2022, after nearly eight years at the helm of the brand.
He announced his decision in a letter to his staff, saying that he felt the need to close that chapter of his life and move on to new challenges.
Alessandro Michele expressed his gratitude to his team, his collaborators, and his fans, and said that he was proud of what they had achieved together.
The fashion designer did not reveal his future plans, but said that he would continue to pursue his passion for fashion and creativity.
14. He was replaced by Sabato De Sarno as the new creative director of Gucci
Photo: @sabatods | Instagram
Italian designer Sabato De Sarno has stepped into the role of Gucci’s new creative director.
De Sarno has had the incredible experience of working with some major fashion giants, including stints at Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino.