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Alessandro Michele and the company that signs his pay check may be Italian to the core, but it’s no secret his heart (or at least the creative part of it) lies with more than a little Britain right now. Despite the UK falling out of love with its EU exes, Italy included, the understated designer dedicated his entire Cruise 2017 collection to England (the emblazoned Union Jack motifs and Westminster Abbey show location were both subtle clues).

See the full Gucci Cruise 2017 Runway collection.

Little surprise then the stunning ad campaign shot by Glen Luchford, due for release on October 1, ticks off an unexpected list of random odes to all things Brit-fabulous. Young models dressed in an anarchic nod to the 70s punk subculture, throw attitude at the camera alongside Oscar-winning British actress and political activist, Vanessa Redgrave, mother of Natasha and Joely Richardson and mother-in-law of Liam Neeson.

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Casting the 79-year-old acting royalty – who was given a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to drama by real-life royalty in 1967 – was a more than a genius creative move.

Gucci already has a legion of young fashion fans obsessed with its edgy florals and more-is-more embellishments (seriously, we wish we had a dollar for every Dionysus bag that’s turned up in Fashion Week street style snaps so far this month) but Redgrave is proof senior style mavens can get their rebel on it today’s Gucci pieces too. Well, in this Cruise collection at least.

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Awestruck as we are by V-Red, the thing that’s truly special about this campaign is its incredible location Chatsworth House and Garden, which the very lucky Duke and Duchess of Devonshire still call home.

An enormous estate founded in the sixteenth century, it’s hosted plenty of embroidered VIP guests over the centuries including Mary, Queen of Scots and the King Portugal, and is more than likely to feature in more than one Gucci campaign over the next few seasons. The design house has entered into a three-year partnership with Chatsworth, which is located in Derbyshire just south of Sheffield, to support cultural activities on the estate. 

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If this video of anarchist youth led by the world’s coolest grandmother doesn’t make you want to get your fashion rebel on, we don’t know what will. 

#GucciCruise17: to the manor reborn

 

Images: Courtesy Gucci
Location: Chatsworth House and Garden
Photographer and Director: Glen Luchford
Art Director: Christopher Simmonds
Stylist: Joe McKenna
Hair: Paul Hanlon
Make up: Yadim Carranza
Talent: Vanessa Redgrave