How Demna Mined the Archives for His Debut Gucci Fall Collection

Image may contain Adult Person Blonde Hair Clothing Sleeve Face and Head

There was nothing tame about Demna’s fall debut for Gucci. It was apparent from the start that S-E-X was the main message. So it’s no surprise that when the creative director was immersed in what he called the “gucciness of Gucci,” what resonated most was Tom Ford’s sizzling era between spring 1996 through fall 2004, which was defined by raunch and refinement.

Last season Demna produced a lookbook of character-driven looks called La Famiglia. He expanded on that idea for fall, imagining the brand as a character. “I see Gucci as a person,” he announced in his show notes. “Someone with a wild, unforgettable past and unmistakable codes.” What came through clearly was a sybaritic streak—and the designer’s intimate familiarity with the archives. Here, a look at Gucci now and then.

Image may contain Amber Chia Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Fashion Adult and Person

Gucci,s pring 1998

Photo: WWD / Getty Images
Image may contain Fashion Clothing Dress Adult Person Skin Tattoo Accessories Bag and Handbag

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Clothing Apparel Dress Human Person Sleeve Pants Long Sleeve Fashion Runway and Evening Dress

Gucci, spring 2004

Photo: Shoot Digital for Style.com
Image may contain Clothing Coat Fashion Long Sleeve Sleeve Overcoat Adult Person Face and Head

Gucci, fall 1996

Photo: WWD / Getty Images
Image may contain Kate Grigorieva Clothing Formal Wear Suit Fashion Adult Person Blazer Coat Jacket and Pants

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Angela Lindvall Fashion Adult Person Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Pants and Runway

Gucci, fall 1999

Penske Media/Getty Images
Image may contain Clothing Dress Adult Person Long Sleeve Sleeve Formal Wear Fashion and Evening Dress

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Fashion Pants Adult Person Runway Face Head and Jeans

Gucci, spring 1998

Photo: WWD / Getty Images
Image may contain McKey Sullivan Clothing Pants Adult Person Long Sleeve Sleeve Formal Wear Suit and Fashion

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Clothing Sleeve Apparel Long Sleeve Runway Human Person and Fashion

Gucci, spring 2000

Photo: JB Villareal / Shoot Digital
Image may contain Bridget Hall Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Pants Adult Person Blonde and Hair

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Skirt Clothing Apparel Human Person Runway Fashion and Janine Flock

Gucci, spring 1999

Photo: Condé Nast Archive
Image may contain Emily DiDonato Adult Person Clothing Hosiery and Sleeve

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
This image may contain Clothing Apparel Dress Sleeve Human Female Person Long Sleeve Woman Runway and Pajamas

Gucci, spring 2000

Photo: JB Villareal / Shoot Digital
Image may contain Sterling Knight Clothing Pants Sleeve Adult Person Accessories Bag Handbag and Jeans

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Fashion Shoe Footwear and Runway

Gucci, spring 1999

Photo: Condé Nast Archive
Image may contain Adult Person Black Hair Hair Fashion Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Coat Jacket and Accessories

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci fall 2004

Gucci, fall 2004

Photo: Marcio Madeira
Image may contain Clothing Pants Coat Adult Person Jacket Fashion Accessories and Glasses

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Anglica Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Fashion Adult Person Shorts Face and Head

Gucci, fall 1997

Photo: WWD / Getty Images
Image may contain Adult Person Clothing Skirt Dress Accessories Jewelry and Necklace

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Human Person Fashion Clothing Shoe Footwear Apparel and Runway

Gucci, spring 2001

Photo: JB Villareal / Shoot Digital for Style.com
Image may contain Fashion Clothing Sleeve Adult Person and Pants

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Trish Goff Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Fashion Adult Person Face Head Blouse and Accessories

Gucci, spring 1996

Photo: Penske Media / Getty Images
Image may contain Black Hair Hair Person Adult Clothing Dress Fashion and Sleeve

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci fall 2004

Gucci, fall 2004

Photo: Marcio Madeira
Image may contain Polina Kuklina Fashion Formal Wear Clothing Dress Adult Person Accessories and Wallet

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci fall 2004

Gucci, fall 2004

Photo: Marcio Madeira
Image may contain Liu Wen Clothing Dress Formal Wear Adult Person Fashion Evening Dress and Gown

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
This image may contain Clothing Apparel Sleeve Human Person Long Sleeve Fashion Robe Evening Dress Gown and Dress

Gucci , fall 1996

Photo: Condé Nast Archive
Image may contain Cynthia Kirchner Clothing Dress Fashion Adult Person Formal Wear Long Sleeve and Sleeve

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Clothing Dress Apparel Sleeve Female Human Person Long Sleeve Pants Woman Overcoat and Coat

Gucci, spring 2000

Photo: JB Villareal / Shoot Digital
Image may contain Shalom Harlow Fashion Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Person Face Head Coat Adult and Runway

Gucci, fall 1997

Photo: WWD / Getty Images
Image may contain Kate Moss Clothing Long Sleeve Sleeve Dress Adult Person Formal Wear Suit and Evening Dress

Gucci, fall 2026

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Image may contain Back Body Part Person Fashion Adult Clothing Coat and Underwear

Gucci, spring 1997

Photo: WWD / Getty Images