When FASHION and CARS COLLIDE
Auto Express|July 05, 2023
"Fashion should be a form of escapism," claimed the late, great Alexander McQueen, which perhaps explains why car makers have been so keen to collaborate with leading designers and fashion houses over the years. But this pursuit of the last word in style has often had mixed results. Here we take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly among the cars created in tandem with the world's most respected sartorial trendsetters.
Graham Hope
When FASHION and CARS COLLIDE

Fiat 500 by Gucci

WITH the luxury fashion house Gucci based in Florence, Italy, some 250 miles from Fiat's home in Turin, it was perhaps inevitable that the pair would collaborate on a version of the 500, given the manufacturer's inexhaustible desire to roll out special editions of the city car.

And so, in 2011, the '500 by Gucci' sashayed down the automotive catwalk, available in white or black and sporting the fashion brand's signature green and red stripes. Marketed at "fashionista customers" keen to "distinguish themselves", the car was promoted by Russian supermodel Natasha Poly who, Fiat said, "lived life at full speed". That probably made her faster than the 1.2-litre 500, which dispatched 0-60mph in a leisurely 12.5 seconds.

Land Rover Defender by Paul Smith

ANOTHER British classic that benefited from Smith's bold use of colours was Land Rover's iconic 4x4. In 2015, as the Defender entered its final phase of production, he teamed up with Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations division and design boss Gerry McGovern to produce this dramatic one-off.

The SVO team was sent 27 Pantone references, which were applied as directed. According to Smith, the patchwork scheme was intended to "honour the honest history of the Defender, especially its use in the farmyard and the emergency services," while inside the vehicle had some luxurious touches. Smith's specific vision was easily explained; he was an owner who drove one extensively at his home in the Italian countryside.

Mini 40th Anniversary by Paul Smith

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 05, 2023-Ausgabe von Auto Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 05, 2023-Ausgabe von Auto Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS AUTO EXPRESSAlle anzeigen
GR86 concept salutes Toyota rally heritage
Auto Express

GR86 concept salutes Toyota rally heritage

TOYOTA has revealed a one-off concept at the 2024 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2024
MINI COUNTRYMAN
Auto Express

MINI COUNTRYMAN

Hey MINI, you're a smash hit with grown-ups and little ones alike

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS
Auto Express

CITROEN C5 AIRCROSS

Hybrid technology isn't new, but it has been improved over the years, thankfully

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
BARGAIN HUNT
Auto Express

BARGAIN HUNT

The new Dacia Duster and MC ZS are the UK's cheapest small SUVs. Which makes more sense in hybrid form?

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
WORLD OF VOLVO
Auto Express

WORLD OF VOLVO

We make a trip to Sweden to visit Volvo's new museum and experience centre in Gothenberg

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
Audi RS Q8
Auto Express

Audi RS Q8

FIRST DRIVE We put updated flagship version of brand's range-topping SUV through its paces on road and track

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
BMW M135
Auto Express

BMW M135

FIRST DRIVE Hot hatch's facelift brings mechanical tweaks to help it keep up with refreshed competition snapping at its heels

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer
Auto Express

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

FIRST DRIVE Large EV estate has the space that families and business drivers crave, but a big battery isn't always good news

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
Dacia Spring
Auto Express

Dacia Spring

FIRST UK DRIVE The UK's cheapest EV is made for life in the city, but how does it fare everywhere else? We get behind the wheel

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 13, 2024
All-new Renault Clio spotted for the first time
Auto Express

All-new Renault Clio spotted for the first time

The 2025 supermini will be a hybrid-powered alternative to the just-launched all-electric R5

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2024