Alessandro Michele’s spring ’16 show for Gucci — shown at Milan’s Scalo Farini, a former railway station — appeared to be inspired by a mystical forest this season. Shoes had refined touches of wilderness, such as floral-print linings or hand-painted snake coils on the block heels of mules.
This enchanted inspiration makes sense since we’re talking about Michele, who spends much of his time designing at his isolated country home in Civita di Bagnoregio, a medieval-style village near Rome.
While Gucci‘s ready-to-wear featured literal interpretations of the theme — shaped fabric hydrangeas used as straps, giant ladybugs embroidered onto neck ties — the footwear offered subtler riffs on the theme. For the top five standout shoes, see below:
1. Leaf-print mules. Uppers were shaped into leaves, with metallic gold piping, and the block heels were finished with hand-painted snake coils.
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2. Ruffled mules. Matching the sheer dresses with ruffled hems, mules had subtle ruffling in the upper fabric as well. Romantic and feminine.
3. Laceup bow pumps. Round-toe pumps with green laces were given a girlish spin via golden bows at the toe cap.
4. Embroidered wrap-tie loafers. Similar to the men’s styles from spring, these wrap-tie loafers had a subtle block heel with pearl embellishments.
5. T-strap platforms. The platform pump was given an update with striped soles and studded straps.
For more of Gucci’s spring ’16 shoes, click through the gallery below.
