Where to start? Cormio’s first runway show had kids involved, a standing ovation in the middle, and a little share of Gucci accessories on top.
In an uplifting show, Jezabelle Cormio cast the Giovani Cantori di Torino choir, a group of 42 talented teenagers, covering different cultural backgrounds and body types.
They came quietly into the theater-like venue, lined up in front of the audience and staged an a cappella performance covering four music pieces, with the first being a poetic manifesto of their generation. If at the beginning the whole concept left guests puzzled, the final, terrific rendition of The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” won people over and got them on their feet. It was like living an episode of “Glee.”
After the performance, each kid walked down the central aisle to offer a closer look at the collection. Cormio channeled her signature naïveté into a collection that referenced the world of boy- and girl-scouting infused with a ‘70s mood.
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In a preview, the designer said she felt “the impact of these last few years on very young people and I wanted to say something about it.” She spelled it loud and clear with the “Take the lead” motto that appeared on T-shirts and cardigans. These added to the collection’s whimsical looks, which hinged on knitwear, spanning from striped dresses to cardigans with floral embroideries and Tyrolese sweaters. Sweet miniskirts in wool and corduroy dresses were alternated with extra short shorts in leather and denim separates.
Accessories were familiar, as Gucci supplied footwear in a sign of the long-standing partnership with the designer, who was selected by the luxury house to participate in GucciFest in 2020 and be showcased at the Vault online concept store launched last year.
“I’m secretly hoping to make you cry,” said Cormio about her runway debut. Although she failed, guests instead left the venue with a big smile on their faces and a lighter heart. An even greater accomplishment these days.