Gucci man sporty by day, refined by night

Just a group of guys hanging out at the bar? Definitely not.

The latest Gucci collection is all about aristocrats, dandies and artists gathered in the haven of a posh gentlemen's club, playing bridge and exchanging eccentric views.

The wardrobe of a member of the Gucci club has its sporty moment by day, and refined edge by night. The overall mood of the latest Gucci collection presented on Monday is of innate elegance.

By day, the Gucci gentleman is into top drawer sportswear from the Equestrian theme with suede padding on trousers and shirts, jockey jackets, crimson linings and saddle stitching, to the micro-quilted fencing jackets and the wide golf trousers complete with elegant pleats.

At night, he is at his most attractive - and he knows it. Dressed in a black tuxedo jacket paired with Prince of Wales plaid trousers and wearing a cocky bow tie and signature Gucci loafers, he needs no I.D. to get in wherever the party is.

Frieda Giannini, creative director for the brand, says she was thinking of the posh world of Savile Row during the 1960s as epitomised by actor Michael Caine, even in his roguish Alfie moments, or today's Robert Pattinson, the 24-year-old British heartthrob of the Twilight saga.

At Gucci, knitwear, which makes a big comeback during the current week of preview showings for next year's spring and summer, is either oversized and woven in special hand-crafted fibers, or super slim in ribbed silk, as sexy as underwear.

The Gucci gentleman carries a maxi bag in precious crocodile or sturdy rawhide, sort of a modern version of leather luggage, but in any case big enough to hold his extensive travel wardrobe.

To shield him from the rougher side of life the Gucci gentleman wears large sunglasses with leather frames but light-coloured lenses - just in case he wants to take a peek.