Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/593406
50 michiganavemag.com photography courtesy of gucci For his frst collection, Michele created pieces with a vintage feel—fow y, '70s-inspired fower- patterned dresses, silk blouses tied at the neck with an unstructured, slender bow—but a sensibility that's undeniably modern. Also included is a range of standout coats and neat trouser suits that are practical (par- ticularly as extra-chic offce wear) and ever-so-slightly androg ynous without being excessively struc- tured or serious. "I wanted to interpret an attitude, not a silhou- ette, through a perspective that blurs the masculine/feminine divide and champions the youthful energ y and natural confdence of today's urbanites," Michele explains. That natural confdence applies to the collection's accessories as well, with fabulously Rat Pack-esque black fat loafers, sturdy thick belts, and boxy handbags with a hint of a Royal Tenenbaums–meets–Bianca Jagger vibe. Most are punctuated with exactly what you'd expect from this distinctive brand: bold trademark hardware, like chunky horsebits and oversize metal G's, that looks as fresh now as it has for decades. 900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-664-5504; gucci.com MA "I wanted to Interpret an attItude, not a sIlhouette." —alessandro michele Gucci's boutique on North Michigan Avenue has long been a mainstay on the city's luxe shopping scene; thanks to a recent renovation and expansion, it's even more alluring. The boutique has been enlarged to include a second foor and now covers an expansive 10,000-plus square feet, offering clothing for men and women, jewelry, childrenswear, beauty products, and— this being Gucci—particularly fabulous shoes and handbags. The updated design of the store is sleek and luxurious, similar to what you might expect to fnd in a luxury apartment in the center of Rome or Milan: strategically comfortable velvet-upholstered seating, marble-inlaid foors in an almost 3-D pattern, and vividly colored carpets. There's also a wide wall displaying a huge array of covetable handbags, with choices appropriate for any occasion. Expanding UnivErsE C O A T H O O K S As the mercury drops, Chicagoans know that the ultimate fall staple is a great coat. This season, Alessandro Michele's versions nod to the 1970s with feminine silhouettes that transform otherwise masculine styles in an array of bold fabrics and colors: Models walk the runway during the finale of the Fall/ Winter 2015–16 show. left: Michele mixes delicate pleats with soft metallics for his debut collection. In a soft shade of camel that's unusu- ally fattering on all skin tones, Michele's warm wool double-breasted trench has the added panache of a delicately pleated back. An oversize wool jacket offers a chic alternative to a longer coat, with the option of layering a cozy sweater underneath on blustery days. In Michele's hands, a traditional over- coat becomes an of-the-moment state- ment piece, in a rich wool jacquard that features a prominent losanga, or diamond-shaped, print. STYLE Tastemaker