The Revival of Gucci

With one collection, designer Tom Ford reframed Gucci as a sexy fashion label. The Gucci Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear show shocked and intrigued fashion-lovers worldwide. 

Model Shalom Harlow wearing full Gucci during the Gucci Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear show. Photo by Condé Nast Archive, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

The ‘90s are synonymous with sexiness. Vibrant nightlife spread across America and the era of the “supermodel” began. Slip dresses, chokers, and animal-print anything filled up closets. Regarding the fashion industry, audiences raved about John Galliano’s and Thierry Mugler’s seductive collections. Yet, amongst the sultry air, one fashion house yearned for a rebrand: Gucci. 

At the time, the Italian giant was dealing with a lull in profits. The founder, Guccio Gucci, based the brand on a strong leather goods foundation. This meant Gucci focused on producing fine leather bags and shoes. While successful, Gucci centered its advertising on what it's always known: how to showcase a quality product. In the ‘90s, there was a shift in the industry towards aesthetic value. This meant that Gucci needed to embrace a newer, edgier point of view. 

Tom Ford was the solution. The American fashion designer graduated from Parsons School of Design with a degree in interior architecture. Like Manolo Blahnik, Thierry Mugler, and other famous designers, he proved that having a formal fashion education isn’t required to succeed. While Tom Ford worked for Gucci prior to the fall of 1995, his ready-to-wear collection that year put all eyes on him. During this show, Tom Ford redefined what “sexy” meant and brought life back into the Italian house. 

Models wearing Gucci during the Gucci Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear show. Photos by Condé Nast Archive, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

In terms of fabric, velvet appeared time and time again in tailored jackets and pants. Each of these pieces clung tight to the arms and legs, moving like the models’ second skin. The buttoned jackets accentuated their waists. Other coats were left open to showcase the shirt and pants underneath. In the ‘80s, velvet was primarily used for creating furniture. While the concept of velvet clothing wasn’t unheard of, Tom Ford, through this collection, elevated the fabric’s meaning. 

Velvet is a soft, smooth material. Additionally, it reflects light easily, giving off a mirrored effect. The models, who wore velvet jackets and pants, physically shined as they walked. In terms of what was considered sexy, Tom Ford transformed this material. With the tight, tailored silhouettes, the rich and reflective material oozed sensuality. These looks were perfect for busy professionals who wanted to look good during and after work. It’s easy to understand why business wear in 2025 references these sleek, tailored outfits. 

Models wearing full Gucci during the Gucci Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear show. Photos by Condé Nast Archive, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Clocking in and out of work never looked so good. In 2025, our current fashion scene longs for this 90’s “office siren” look. The 1995 collection perfectly represents the sensual office wear of that time. For the show, Tom Ford designed turtlenecks, pencil skirts, leather jackets, and other semi-professional pieces. The beauty of these items lies within their shape and structure. 

For example, the cotton, ribbed turtleneck reappeared throughout the collection. This top, as with the suits, clung tight to the models’ torsos. Keeping with the dark, sultry color palette, a select few models wore the top in navy blue or black. On the other hand, some of the looks would get you an HR dress code violation. Forget about the consequences though, the revealing, unbuttoned shirts stole the show. 

Model Shalom Harlow was the first to walk out in an aqua blue, unbuttoned silk shirt. This top was paired with a similar colored jacket, dark navy, velvet slacks, and leather shoes. This was the first glimpse the audience had at the “new” version of sexy. As the show progressed, these revealing shirts contrasted well with the turtlenecks and collared jackets. Additionally, Shalom Harlow closed the show in an all-black ensemble: a double breasted jacket, velvet slacks, and leather shoes. 

Models wearing full Gucci during the Gucci Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear show. Photos by Condé Nast Archive, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Last, but not least, Tom Ford put silk back on top with this collection. The beautiful tailored suits he created made business wear sleek again. The tailored jackets, with their sharp shoulders and tight arms, seemingly constricted the model’s bodies. While they moved around freely, their silhouette remained intact. The silk pants helped move low-rise bottoms into luxury fashion. As with their matching jackets, these pants held their shape and shined in the spotlight. 

Tom Ford revived Gucci with the Fall 1995 Ready-to-Wear collection. For the next decade, he built on top of the house’s strong leather goods foundation. The Italian fashion house is still one of the biggest names in the industry. With this seductive collection, Tom Ford made sexy feel new again.