Gucci turns 85

Gucci celebrated 85 years in the business on Thursday with the launch of a new book, Gucci by Gucci. It explores the history of the Italian brand, which began as a purveyor of leather goods. The label has been a favourite of stylish women like Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana. Just when the brand appeared to be slowly disappearing from the fashion radar, Tom Ford turned it into the most desirable must-have in the nineties. His use of raw sexual, strong silhouettes and bold imagery in provocative ad campaigns had the world sitting on the edge of its seat. Currently headed up by Frida Giannini, Gucci continues to thrive with a more constrained image. For the show in Milan , she sent models down the catwalk in clothes with a distinct 60s vibe in a bold, graphic palette of predominantly black, white, purple and red. If Gucci has anything to say about tunics and miniskirts are back with a vengeance.