Princess Diana’s ‘fun mum’ style inspired Gucci’s London fashion show

On the catwalk, you couldn’t move for Blondie handbags – a chunky, squishy kind-of saddle bag in three sizes. Bags were a big part of De Sarno’s proportions game, with ultra large and very neat ones adding to the jigsaw.

As for the clothes, De Sarno’s stripped back first collection last September was criticised by some for being dull. True, it lacked the fireworks of his predecessor, but those fireworks had become repetitive. Anecdotally, lots of real women seem to like what he’s doing – and this resort show, which incorporated horsebit motifs on suede, delicate embroideries, intricate glass bead fringing, pearl necklaces and ditsy florals, made chic against black separates, should go some way to tempting back the more-is-more brigade. Shoes were predominantly flat, strappy with traces of ballet core. 

As for the less is more tribe? Who doesn’t love a great 70s-style blazer with a pussy bow blouse and tailored jeans, or a perfect pea coat?

So will Diana, famous as a saviour, rescue Gucci? While it has yet to set down a distinctive De Sarno handwriting, the Gucci London show coalesced many disparate ideas into a collection of great clothes that are destined to be copied on the high street. 

More looks from the show…