Gucci Dreams of Magical Sunsets at Milan Fashion Week

 A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Gucci Dreams of Magical Sunsets at Milan Fashion Week

 A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A model presents a creation from the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 20, 2024. (Reuters)

Gucci sought to recreate the magic of summer sunsets at Milan Fashion Week on Friday with a colorful line that at times nodded to the 1960s.

Creative director Sabato De Sarno began the show for his spring/summer 2025 collection, called “Casual grandeur”, with a tailored zipped jacket and floor-length trousers slit at the front bottom, opening up over sneakers.

Models wore draped or sleeveless dresses in various colors adorned with golden buckles as well as see-through lace frocks.

There were looks that mirrored 1960s styles with short A-line skirts, structured jackets and shorts. Long coats were worn over tank tops and long denim trousers. Some coats were adorned with sparkling fringes.

Models walked down a red catwalk with lighting ranging from white to warmer shades, nodding to the "moment the sun dives into the sea at the end of an August day", De Sarno said in show notes.

“It’s the moment we find ourselves. This collection is a tribute to those moments, and an invitation to stop, seek your own moment," he said, as the show drew Oscar winner Jessica Chastain and Italian tennis star and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner among celebrity guests.

Accessories included large summer hats, an array of handbags and footwear that varied from loafers and boots to platforms with transparent heels.

De Sarno's color palette included grey, brown, different shades of green, white, orange and red.

De Sarno, who presented his first Gucci show a year ago, has been resetting the Italian luxury brand with his sleek, pared-back creations since taking over from former designer Alessandro Michele, known for his eclectic styles.

“A year later, this collection shows an accomplished journey of construction,” De Sarno said.

Gucci is the largest brand at Kering where it accounts for half of the French luxury group’s sales.

In July, Kering reported a bigger-than-expected drop in second-quarter sales and forecast a weak second half, as the group works to re-energize Gucci while facing subdued demand from Chinese shoppers.



Nike's New CEO Plans to Go Back to Basics in Brand Overhaul Effort

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
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Nike's New CEO Plans to Go Back to Basics in Brand Overhaul Effort

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)

Nike's new CEO Elliott Hill warned of a long road to sales recovery for the sportswear giant, but the veteran executive's plan to turn the spotlight on sports like basketball and running, allayed some investor worries.

The company said on Thursday it was expecting third-quarter revenue to drop to low double digits after the embattled sportswear seller's quarterly results beat market estimates.

Hill, in his first public address as CEO on the post-earnings call, said Nike had "lost its obsession with sport" and vowed to put it back on track by refocusing on sport and selling more items at premium prices, Reuters reported.

"The recovery is going to be a multi-year process, but he(Hill) seems to be going back to the roots, back to Nike being Nike," said John Nagle, chief investment officer at Kavar Capital Partners, which owns Nike shares.

"(Hill plans to shift focus) away from some of the streetwear and fashion that had taken over the brand, the heavy discounting and the neglect of retailers. Just taking it back to what worked," Nagle said.

Hill, who was with Nike for more than three decades, returned as CEO in October to revive demand at the firm that has been struggling with strategy missteps that soured its relations with retailers such as Foot Locker.

Earlier this month, Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon said Hill was "taking the right actions for the brand" and the retailer was "working closely" with Nike to emphasize newer sportswear styles, including Vomero and Air DT Max.

"(The retailers) they want us to get back to being Nike, and they want us to have the unrelenting flow of innovative products... and they want us to get back to delivering bold brand statements that help drive traffic," Hill said.

The company's market share dwindled as rival brands, including Roger Federer-backed On and Deckers' Hoka , lured consumers with fresher and more innovative styles.

Hill also highlighted that a lack of newness led Nike to become too promotional and said he plans to shift to selling more at full price on its website and app.

"With another half year of franchise management coupled with investment to reinvigorate the brand, we believe the next four quarters could be the worst of the margin erosion and earnings per share reductions," Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih said.

At least seven brokerages cut price targets on the stock with some analysts pointing to the lack of a clear timeline for Nike to return to growth.

Shares of Nike, which have lost about half of its value in the last three years, were down nearly about 2% in early trading on Friday.

Nike's forward price-to-earnings ratio for the next 12 months, a benchmark for valuing stocks, was 27.53, compared with 33.47 for Deckers and 32.32 for Adidas.

"A rudderless ship now has a rudder, and a sailor who knows how to drive it," said Eric Clark, portfolio manager at the Rational Dynamic Brands fund that owns Nike shares.