The 81st International Motorshow, which I had the pleasure of attending, wrapped up about a week ago here in Geneva, Switzerland. Let me first say that I know very little about cars and this article is anything but an analysis of the vehicles themselves. There are far better resources to read up on which automobiles made a splash at the show. For example, here or here.
No, dear readers, what you will find here are the three takeaways that this fashion-minded digitalista walked away with following an afternoon at the car show.
1 – Roadway becomes the Runway
I had read about Fiat and Gucci partnering on a special edition of the Cinquecento (500), and so was thrilled when I stumbled upon the vehicle itself at the show. The Fiat 500, which will be debuting in the US this year, and which Fashion’s Collective has discussed before, was originally launched in Italy in the 50’s and quickly became an affordable, practical, and popular car across Europe. Today’s Fiat 500 retains the original’s utility, but now features a zippy little engine packaged in a fun, frisky frame and is well-regarded by many an automobile connoisseur.
Given Fiat’s history, it makes sense that these two storied Italian brands chose to partner up. “When the Fiat 500 first hit the road in the fifties it created a style revolution,” says Gucci’s creative director, Frida Gianinni. “Gucci’s history has always been about traveling in style, so when this collaboration came up, it struck me as the perfect opportunity to create a new, modern travel statement.”
Throughout the vehicle are all of the immediately recognizable Gucci symbols; from the red and green stripes wrapping around the exterior to the interlocking GG pattern on the leather seats. For those in need of a little luxury boost without paying the prices of some of the top-of-line supercars seen at the show, the €17,000 price tag for the Fiat 500 by Gucci is flat-out cheap. Act fast though, as only 500 have been made!
2 – iPads everywhere!
Did I mention that there were iPads everywhere? EVERYWHERE. I have never seen a trade show technology grasped so quickly as the use of iPads. Not only were they in the hands of nearly all brand representatives and available for visitors to peruse through, but they were built into some of the cars! They were included as backseat entertainment, like in the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, and also as dashboard controls, like in the reintroduction of the Volkswagen Microbus (dubbed “Bulli”).
3 – The Colors!
Oh, the colors! I couldn’t help but continuously compare the perfect varnishes with those of some of the trendiest nail polish colors. From khaki green to matte black to shimmery purples to neon yellow, color trends aren’t just for fashion and beauty! While the bulk of mass-produced cars still feature hues of white, silver, and blue, it was the more daring (and pricey!) automobiles that tested the waters of car color fashion statements. One automobile that made an impact at the show was the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept, which was featured in a jaw-dropping “sparkling rosé” velvety matte red. Could this be a hot color in cosmetics or fashion next fall? Why not…
Photo credits: Tamar Koifman, Seriouswheels.com, 500bygucci.com, autospies.com
All articles are reviewed and copy-edited by Gina Conforti
