Gucci gets grips with extreme sports in womenswear show

Designer Frida Giannini meshes techno fabrics with natural cottons and silks.

MILAN, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 26, 2009) REUTERS - Italian label Gucci took sportswear into luxury at its spring/summer 2010 womenswear show on Saturday, (September 26), mixing athletics and aesthetics.
Designer Frida Giannini cinched and laced outfits with rubber or metallic clasps redolent of ski gear and climbing.

Models wore white short dresses or trousers and jackets spliced with rubber lacing or closed with zips.

A swimsuit in grey had metal clasps and an open-backed jacket was clasped shut.

A native american style print was used for woven leather jackets or flowing chiffon parkas, with its basic black and white design splashed either with orange or cobalt blue.

The print took on a stunning evening role in silver on a little black dress, while other versions of the classic shape in clingy fabrics had networks of metal beading or sparkling black epaulettes.

Giannini echoed other designers this week with high shoes and sculpted heels, but the Gucci version had wide leather ankle bands and criss-cross strap fronts.