Gucci's pre-Spring collection is paraded at a 17th century hilltop villa in
the brand designer Frida Giannini's native Rome.

 ROME, ITALY (JULY 8, 2008) REUTERS -
Billowy summer dresses pinned with gold shells and flared trousers
from a bygone era of languid glamour stole the show at Gucci's pre-Spring
collection paraded at a 17th century hilltop villa in designer Frida
Giannini's native Rome on Tuesday (July 8).
   "It is inspired by a sort of 70's attitude, which means that I had
in mind for this collection a very precise image of Talita Getty on her roof
terrace of her Villa in Marrakech with very long kaftans, very printed and
colorful and embroidery," said Giannini, that picked Rome for the event
to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the brands flagship store in the eternal
city.
   One of a growing line of fashion houses showing off a "cruise
wear" or pre-spring collection in addition to the regular summer and
winter seasonal catwalk shows, Gucci sent its models down the runway with
oversized python-print bags in hand and chunky wedges on their feet.
    "The Cruise Collection stays in the stores from November to
January and so it really represents a big part, a big portion of the
collection. I don' believe that this sacrifices the fall winter or the spring
summer, but sometimes it is also a good exercise for us as designers to
anticipate a few tendencies or mood that then  you can see in the fashion
shows on the runaway in September," Giannini said.
   With a global economic slowdown biting into profits at luxury brand
houses worldwide, the mid-season cruise collections have turned into an
important segment fashion houses are eyeing to keep consumers coming back for
more. 
   White trousers and dresses bursting with colours like saffron and
turquoise featured strongly in the collection on display watched by actress
Claire Danes, who is the face of Gucci's new fine jewellery campaign,
supported by ankle-length dresses and leather-trimmed jackets.
  "I'm a big Gucci fan. I've just done the latest jewellry campaign
for Gucci. It's just the definition of glamour and luxury and it's incredibly
feminine and sexy and powerful," Danes said.