Sabato De Sarno - Designer, Creative Director of Gucci

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Oh please, its not like the flagship is any better.

These are from a month ago.


Gucci Flagship Milan Google Reviews

This looks like an outlet

 

[tricotineacetat]

^^It’s true! The furniture screams wayfair.com!

Thank you, I was missing the name of the website I meant - That’s exactly it!

 

[NoInvite]

Why has everything under Sabato has been so inconsistent under our eyes?
From the lackluster first few collections, bland campaigns (even the ones released today) and now the store doesn't even look good.

I can't help but wonder....
Who's to blame? Gucci not giving him the correct support? or the guy is just not it?
Or we just don't get it?......

 

[Alquimista]

Is this really what the Gucci stores look like these days under Sabato's direction? I'm shocked at how cheap it looks! That grey carpet is absolutely foul. And those bright white lights are bordering on supermarket lighting. I can't believe this is the new Gucci store concept.

View attachment 1294877
View attachment 1294878
gucci.com/

I'm not rich but I suppose the experience you have in this space consists in get in, buying something and walk out. Where is the spirit of Gucci in this? It's not just about light and sofas, it's the experience around the product.

 

[LadyJunon]

Why has everything under Sabato has been so inconsistent under our eyes?
From the lackluster first few collections, bland campaigns (even the ones released today) and now the store doesn't even look good.

I can't help but wonder....
Who's to blame? Gucci not giving him the correct support? or the guy is just not it?
Or we just don't get it?......

It's a rancid mix of corporate meddling, lack of direction and self-sabotage being packaged as a brand-saving "reboot". Remember that "Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane" and "Gucci by Alessandro Michele" still stand at the golden standards for a brand reboot: desirable products supported by a clear-cut business strategy wrapped in a package of strong curated visuals and a touch of irreverence. Sabato's Gucci has none of that.

 

[Xone]

But the Milan flagship is also not Sabato's vision, it was designed before he came on board. For all the fireworks Gucci have created around this guy, the fact that he does not yet have even one store anywhere in the world that has been designed under his creative direction is quite bizarre. Those Ancora Red "pop-ups" were about it.

To me it says that Kering is still not fully prepared to invest in his vision...

Actually it is his vision...they changed CD in the middle of the store renovation (MIchele's vision) and they neeed to re do everything that's why it took so long to reopen....

 

[PDFSD]

Actually it is his vision...they changed CD in the middle of the store renovation (MIchele's vision) and they neeed to re do everything that's why it took so long to reopen....

Its funny that everything is but ancora guy´s fault for lack of vision and execution at Gucci...maybe gucci has bots everywhere online to defend their captain on this sinking GG ship.

September will be fun to see Valentino banking on maximalist boho to do wonders and Gucci still pretending their bet on minimal "no concept" concept approach will pay off ...lol

 

[AVC]

But the Milan flagship is also not Sabato's vision, it was designed before he came on board. For all the fireworks Gucci have created around this guy, the fact that he does not yet have even one store anywhere in the world that has been designed under his creative direction is quite bizarre. Those Ancora Red "pop-ups" were about it.

To me it says that Kering is still not fully prepared to invest in his vision...

You’re right, none of the stores opening now look like Sabato had any influence on their design. I’m just simply stating that this new opening you posted is not the latest concept, as it looks similar to a lot of stores that opened before Sabato even was announced.

Oh please, its not like the flagship is any better.

These are from a month ago.

View attachment 1294881
View attachment 1294882
View attachment 1294883
Gucci Flagship Milan Google Reviews

I never said it was better, I said it was a different concept. Reading comprehension is important.

To think that people are complaining about Hedi Slimane’s continuous liking of chrome and marble when a significantly larger brand than Celine is coming up with this.

The sofas and lounge chairs look like they were randomly bought at any mid-tier furniture shop, you can put that in a café or waiting room but not in the stores of one of the largest luxury goods maisons, damn it!

I work in architecture, so maybe it’s not common knowledge, but the furniture in the Milan store are famous high-end Italian brands like B&B Italia and Cassina, etc. They are well known in the high end furniture world. Sometimes it seems like people like to trash everything they see without thinking twice.

 

[AVC]

Actually it is his vision...they changed CD in the middle of the store renovation (MIchele's vision) and they neeed to re do everything that's why it took so long to reopen....

I highly doubt this, because the timeline for design to construction doesn’t align with his appointment to Gucci. Most likely this was done by an internal or external designer to remove Alessandro-isms in the interim.

 

[fenty]

Hypebeast being sold in the store vs the runway showcasing "quiet luxury" I just know Pinault plucking out the little hairs he has left

 

[NoInvite]

This sofa haunts me in my dreams I had to google it.
I'm sure all the furnitures came from great Italian brands but just the context and taste of it doesn't say anything about the brand vision.

 

[blueorchid]

I work in architecture, so maybe it’s not common knowledge, but the furniture in the Milan store are famous high-end Italian brands like B&B Italia and Cassina, etc. They are well known in the high end furniture world. Sometimes it seems like people like to trash everything they see without thinking twice.

In the words of Dolly Parton: "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap."

 

[Grets]

There is such an opportunity for brands to express their design ideologies through furniture and interiors. The Row to Rick Owens to Celine are able to convey their design language through their furniture choices in store or even in their ad campaigns. These stores say nothing.

 

[PDFSD]

I work in architecture, so maybe it’s not common knowledge, but the furniture in the Milan store are famous high-end Italian brands like B&B Italia and Cassina, etc. They are well known in the high end furniture world. Sometimes it seems like people like to trash everything they see without thinking twice.

yes its commons for brands to have iconic furniture in stores with adapted colors or fabrications its not special or new concept, yet ancora selection is very department store go to milan rinascente you find same offer or any design store where as bottega has more obscure and special selection per example.

The point is to create a vision that is curated and unique by the accumulation of different elements brought together for a brand in order to have a new and distinct feeling so you generate excitement and interest of entering a world you would like to belong and buy into etc, the milan store with ancora touch and the nyc one in soho just are as basic as the clothes and ad campaigns and that's regardless of the Gucci or Cassina or B&B label even for milan design week they did the ancora colors of the selection of the design classics but it's just not enough special and ended up looking cheap.

 

[PDFSD]

I highly doubt this, because the timeline for design to construction doesn’t align with his appointment to Gucci. Most likely this was done by an internal or external designer to remove Alessandro-isms in the interim.

MILAN — Gucci’s renovated store in Milan’s Via Montenapoleone 5 is an ode to the city and to Italian creativity and design.

While the flagship does not yet fully reflect the vision of new creative director Sabato De Sarno, his influence is clearly visible and marks a decisive departure from his predecessor Alessandro Michele’s store concept. The store is an evolution that shines the light on the product and further elevates the luxury perception of the brand.
The store “invites our clients to embark on a beautifully tailored experience, showcasing the exceptional quality of the house’s products. Here, Gucci’s fashion authority and timeless luxury are center stage,” remarked president and chief executive officer Jean-François Palus. “This flagship echoes Gucci’s profound appreciation for contemporary art and design and epitomizes the essence of Italian beauty and craftsmanship.”

The store also has a significant symbolic implication as it was inaugurated in 1951 by Rodolfo Gucci, one of the three sons of founder Guccio Gucci, and was the first to open in Milan. It closed in July 2022 and has been going through an extensive renovation, reopening on Dec. 7. A celebratory evening event will be held on Wednesday. “It is particularly meaningful that we reopen in this address, at the very heart of a city renowned for sparking creativity, influencing fashion and embodying luxury,” noted Palus.

Via Montenapoleone is a magnet for high-spending, high-net-worth individuals and the home of leading international luxury brands’ flagships. Gucci stands next door to the new Chanel flagship, a few steps away from Ferragamo, Fendi, Etro, Hermès, Dior and Prada, to name a few. As reported, Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and Milan’s Via Montenapoleone rank as the world’s most expensive retail venues this year, at $2,000 a square foot and $1,766 a square foot, respectively, according to the 2023 version of Cushman & Wakefield’s annual report “Main Streets Across the World.”

In Milan, there is also a Gucci store in the luxury shopping arcade Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. As of the end of September, there were 534 directly operated Gucci stores worldwide.

In the Via Montenapoleone flagship, the floors are eye-catching, with Cipollino and Bardiglio marble forming intricate geometric patterns, reminiscent of some of the city’s storied residential projects, including Villa Necchi Campiglio. Italian craftsmanship is celebrated with the use of the artisanal Venetian “pulegoso” glass on door handles and shelves, filled with tiny gas bubbles.

The store pays tribute to Italian furniture design. Pieces include Cassina’s “Utrecht” armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; the “Maralunga” sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina’s iMaestri Collection; the “La Bambola” armchair by Mario Bellini, and “Tufty-Time” sofa system by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia; the “Rod” seat by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani, and the “Gladstone” table by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti.

De Sarno is an art collector and his passion for the arts is telegraphed throughout the store, which is rendered unique by the selection of modern and contemporary works by both midcareer and established artists and chosen by curator Truls Blaasmo. Reinforcing the connection to the city, the boutique displays works from Milanese masters such as Lucio Fontana, Getulio Alviani, Liliana Moro and Franco Mazzucchelli, along with works from international artists such as Nathlie Provosty, Jaime Poblete, François Durel, Michael Rey, Herbert Hamak, Adji Dieye and Augustas Serapinas, among others.

“Intertwining the house’s rich heritage with contemporary creations by Italian artists and designers, the Montenapoleone store is enhanced by a meticulously curated selection of artworks,” Palus told WWD. “This signifies a new approach to blending tradition and contemporary expression in our stores, which results in a rejuvenated and beautiful ambience — a cohesive, immersive and inviting space tailored for all of our clientele.”

The executive was named to the Gucci post in July. He was previously managing director at the brand’s parent Kering Group and succeeded Marco Bizzarri at the helm of Gucci.
“The store concept is a result of collaborative efforts from the merchandising and retail teams, and the design office. This unified reengineering approach prioritizes seasonal versatility,” added Palus. “With a focus on each and every detail, our primary goal is to reflect the house’s elevated experience and exceptional products, placing Gucci’s fashion authority and timeless luxury at the forefront.”

De Sarno also left his stamp on the ground floor’s Rosso Ancora carpeted room with lacquered walls and ceilings. These come in the designer’s new deep, liquid red, almost burgundy shade he unveiled with his spring 2024 collection, called Rosso Ancora. Similar to a contemporary art work, 150 maquettes of Jackie Notte bags in the same red hang on the wall, a luminous Gucci Ancora sign further telegraphing the message.

In September, the designer staged an event at Milan’s Bar Jamaica to present the first volume of his “Gucci Prospettive” series, which will accompany each of his collections for the brand. Stefano Collicelli Cagol, director of the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art in Prato, interpreted the vision for the first chapter. De Sarno’s aim was to pay tribute to Milan with its art works, literature excerpts, music, cinema and fashion, narrating fragments of the city’s cultural and artistic history from the postwar period to the present day.

Named to his current post in January, De Sarno joined Gucci from Valentino, where he spent 14 years, most recently as fashion director of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear.

Covering almost 20,000 square feet across two floors, the boutique carries Gucci’s mens’ and women’s rtw collections, handbags, luggage, shoes, silks, eyewear, jewelry, fragrances and gifting items. There are also two VIP lounges.

Leather goods are displayed at the entrance on the ground floor, arranged on a striking backlit white alabaster wall, spotlighting a selection of Jackie Notte bags and Signoria slingback pumps from the Ancora collection.

On another wall, Gucci’s silk carrés, including the storied Flora print, first designed by Vittorio Accornero in 1966 for Princess Grace of Monaco, are placed as paintings, also backlit.

De Sarno’s Ancora apparel collection is on display on the lower floor, available for preorder.

As part of Gucci’s commitment to implement and enhance eco-friendly initiatives and energy-efficient technologies in the house’s stores worldwide, the boutique is designed using LEED guidelines and principles, monitoring and promoting energy efficiency.

WWD


As in the press release´s of the store opening part of the store was done by ancora like vip room and furniture and art selection ..........even the show spaces have lots of metal seats and runways, look at his office pictures and you get same style and taste for design furniture it's not miles away

seats

Nome: Le Bambole

Autore: Mario Bellini

Anno: 1972

Azienda produttrice: B&B Italia

black metal cabinet USM + Chair vitra

each show has some metal element (90´s design store relic )

GUCCI.COM
The fully renovated boutique at Via Monte Napoleone, where the store was first inaugurated in 1951, blends tradition and contemporary design, aligned with Creative Director Sabato De Sarno’s vision.

 

[AVC]

MILAN — Gucci’s renovated store in Milan’s Via Montenapoleone 5 is an ode to the city and to Italian creativity and design.

While the flagship does not yet fully reflect the vision of new creative director Sabato De Sarno, his influence is clearly visible and marks a decisive departure from his predecessor Alessandro Michele’s store concept. The store is an evolution that shines the light on the product and further elevates the luxury perception of the brand.
The store “invites our clients to embark on a beautifully tailored experience, showcasing the exceptional quality of the house’s products. Here, Gucci’s fashion authority and timeless luxury are center stage,” remarked president and chief executive officer Jean-François Palus. “This flagship echoes Gucci’s profound appreciation for contemporary art and design and epitomizes the essence of Italian beauty and craftsmanship.”

The store also has a significant symbolic implication as it was inaugurated in 1951 by Rodolfo Gucci, one of the three sons of founder Guccio Gucci, and was the first to open in Milan. It closed in July 2022 and has been going through an extensive renovation, reopening on Dec. 7. A celebratory evening event will be held on Wednesday. “It is particularly meaningful that we reopen in this address, at the very heart of a city renowned for sparking creativity, influencing fashion and embodying luxury,” noted Palus.

Via Montenapoleone is a magnet for high-spending, high-net-worth individuals and the home of leading international luxury brands’ flagships. Gucci stands next door to the new Chanel flagship, a few steps away from Ferragamo, Fendi, Etro, Hermès, Dior and Prada, to name a few. As reported, Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and Milan’s Via Montenapoleone rank as the world’s most expensive retail venues this year, at $2,000 a square foot and $1,766 a square foot, respectively, according to the 2023 version of Cushman & Wakefield’s annual report “Main Streets Across the World.”

In Milan, there is also a Gucci store in the luxury shopping arcade Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. As of the end of September, there were 534 directly operated Gucci stores worldwide.

In the Via Montenapoleone flagship, the floors are eye-catching, with Cipollino and Bardiglio marble forming intricate geometric patterns, reminiscent of some of the city’s storied residential projects, including Villa Necchi Campiglio. Italian craftsmanship is celebrated with the use of the artisanal Venetian “pulegoso” glass on door handles and shelves, filled with tiny gas bubbles.

The store pays tribute to Italian furniture design. Pieces include Cassina’s “Utrecht” armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; the “Maralunga” sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina’s iMaestri Collection; the “La Bambola” armchair by Mario Bellini, and “Tufty-Time” sofa system by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia; the “Rod” seat by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani, and the “Gladstone” table by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti.

De Sarno is an art collector and his passion for the arts is telegraphed throughout the store, which is rendered unique by the selection of modern and contemporary works by both midcareer and established artists and chosen by curator Truls Blaasmo. Reinforcing the connection to the city, the boutique displays works from Milanese masters such as Lucio Fontana, Getulio Alviani, Liliana Moro and Franco Mazzucchelli, along with works from international artists such as Nathlie Provosty, Jaime Poblete, François Durel, Michael Rey, Herbert Hamak, Adji Dieye and Augustas Serapinas, among others.

“Intertwining the house’s rich heritage with contemporary creations by Italian artists and designers, the Montenapoleone store is enhanced by a meticulously curated selection of artworks,” Palus told WWD. “This signifies a new approach to blending tradition and contemporary expression in our stores, which results in a rejuvenated and beautiful ambience — a cohesive, immersive and inviting space tailored for all of our clientele.”

The executive was named to the Gucci post in July. He was previously managing director at the brand’s parent Kering Group and succeeded Marco Bizzarri at the helm of Gucci.
“The store concept is a result of collaborative efforts from the merchandising and retail teams, and the design office. This unified reengineering approach prioritizes seasonal versatility,” added Palus. “With a focus on each and every detail, our primary goal is to reflect the house’s elevated experience and exceptional products, placing Gucci’s fashion authority and timeless luxury at the forefront.”

De Sarno also left his stamp on the ground floor’s Rosso Ancora carpeted room with lacquered walls and ceilings. These come in the designer’s new deep, liquid red, almost burgundy shade he unveiled with his spring 2024 collection, called Rosso Ancora. Similar to a contemporary art work, 150 maquettes of Jackie Notte bags in the same red hang on the wall, a luminous Gucci Ancora sign further telegraphing the message.

In September, the designer staged an event at Milan’s Bar Jamaica to present the first volume of his “Gucci Prospettive” series, which will accompany each of his collections for the brand. Stefano Collicelli Cagol, director of the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art in Prato, interpreted the vision for the first chapter. De Sarno’s aim was to pay tribute to Milan with its art works, literature excerpts, music, cinema and fashion, narrating fragments of the city’s cultural and artistic history from the postwar period to the present day.

Named to his current post in January, De Sarno joined Gucci from Valentino, where he spent 14 years, most recently as fashion director of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear.

Covering almost 20,000 square feet across two floors, the boutique carries Gucci’s mens’ and women’s rtw collections, handbags, luggage, shoes, silks, eyewear, jewelry, fragrances and gifting items. There are also two VIP lounges.

Leather goods are displayed at the entrance on the ground floor, arranged on a striking backlit white alabaster wall, spotlighting a selection of Jackie Notte bags and Signoria slingback pumps from the Ancora collection.

On another wall, Gucci’s silk carrés, including the storied Flora print, first designed by Vittorio Accornero in 1966 for Princess Grace of Monaco, are placed as paintings, also backlit.

De Sarno’s Ancora apparel collection is on display on the lower floor, available for preorder.

As part of Gucci’s commitment to implement and enhance eco-friendly initiatives and energy-efficient technologies in the house’s stores worldwide, the boutique is designed using LEED guidelines and principles, monitoring and promoting energy efficiency.

WWD


As in the press release´s of the store opening part of the store was done by ancora like vip room and furniture and art selection ..........even the show spaces have lots of metal seats and runways, look at his office pictures and you get same style and taste for design furniture it's not miles away

seats

Nome: Le Bambole

Autore: Mario Bellini

Anno: 1972

Azienda produttrice: B&B Italia

black metal cabinet USM + Chair vitra

each show has some metal element (90´s design store relic )

GUCCI.COM
The fully renovated boutique at Via Monte Napoleone, where the store was first inaugurated in 1951, blends tradition and contemporary design, aligned with Creative Director Sabato De Sarno’s vision.

Ah, so it is his touch? Pretty much confirms why it’s so bland. The stores with the gray carpet don’t look like this though, those still have the paneled walls like Alessandro store but without any of the color or patterns.

 

[AVC]

yes its commons for brands to have iconic furniture in stores with adapted colors or fabrications its not special or new concept, yet ancora selection is very department store go to milan rinascente you find same offer or any design store where as bottega has more obscure and special selection per example.

The point is to create a vision that is curated and unique by the accumulation of different elements brought together for a brand in order to have a new and distinct feeling so you generate excitement and interest of entering a world you would like to belong and buy into etc, the milan store with ancora touch and the nyc one in soho just are as basic as the clothes and ad campaigns and that's regardless of the Gucci or Cassina or B&B label even for milan design week they did the ancora colors of the selection of the design classics but it's just not enough special and ended up looking cheap.

The furniture selection is bland and generic, but it is NOT cheap nor cheap looking. Calling it wayfair just shows that a lot of people hate Sabato and will trash anything related to him, even when it’s a high quality and beautifully crafted couch from a highly regarded furniture design brand.

 

[yslforever]

The furniture selection is bland and generic, but it is NOT cheap nor cheap looking. Calling it wayfair just shows that a lot of people hate Sabato and will trash anything related to him, even when it’s a high quality and beautifully crafted couch from a highly regarded furniture design brand.

Nope that blue teal velvet sofa and armchairs were totally basic af. Something for a hairstylist waiting room .

The basicness, extremely pedestrian Saturday Gucci makes quite nostalgic of Alessandro’s fantasty and dreamy, very oniric universe. I need fantasy in my life right now.

But it don’t know if I you should buy vintage Gucci (including those alligator and mink Princeton mules I have just spotted), or wait for his Valentino to hit the stores.
I need a dose of not basic, I need a dream, fantasy, I need a strong story-stelling and surrealism.
I need excitement I can adhere. I have nothing like that in current fashion.
The temporary team between Alessandro departure and Ancora dude was 10 times better than Saturday.

 

[AVC]

Nope that blue teal velvet sofa and armchairs were totally basic af. Something for a hairstylist waiting room .

The basicness, extremely pedestrian Saturday Gucci makes quite nostalgic of Alessandro’s fantasty and dreamy, very oniric universe. I need fantasy in my life right now.

But it don’t know if I you should buy vintage Gucci (including those alligator and mink Princeton mules I have just spotted), or wait for his Valentino to hit the stores.
I need a dose of not basic, I need a dream, fantasy, I need a strong story-stelling and surrealism.
I need excitement I can adhere. I have nothing like that in current fashion.
The temporary team between Alessandro departure and Ancora dude was 10 times better than Saturday.

Funnily, those velvet chairs you pointed out are from the Alessandro concept stores. I’m talking about the B&B / Cassina chairs from the Milan Store which apparently is Sabato concept. Those chairs are frequently used in our projects for high end luxury condos and hotels.

 

[blueorchid]

Well, he got this right: