The inspirations behind the jerseys of the Palace and Gucci collaboration

The new collaboration between Palace and Gucci, among the many items on offer that will be on sale from October 21 are three football jerseys that sum up both the London brand's fixation with the ball and the Italian fashion house's retro fantasy. So there is no shortage of references to the 90s aesthetic that Palace has made a streetwear classic, nor the all-over prints and pop colors that have made Gucci one of the most relevant brands in international fashion in recent years, and, as in the video launching the campaign, the references and inspirations that have driven the design are also evident in the jerseys.

The first in blue with a pattern created by the all-over logo with the two Gs chained in a rhombus shape is an obvious reference to the "Renaissance" jersey made by PUMA for the Italian national team and used in the victorious European Championship. Then again, the monogram has also entered with great force on jerseys, as evidenced by those of Inter last season with the snakeskin and the one worn during this season by AS Roma. The second one characterized by the central band that recovers Gucci's colors, green and red, is very similar to the third Nike for Juventus jersey in 2011-12 with the three bands of the tricolor that cross the jersey vertically. But if the central break in the Juventus jersey is jagged the one chosen by Palace x Gucci is reminiscent of the one used for the Paris Saint-Germain jersey in the 2019-20 season with a design very similar to the Hechter design that has defined the Parisian team's style for years. 

The third shirt in the collaboration between Palace and Gucci, on the other hand, recovers a more obscure reference and is to be found in an Andalusian First Division team that in 2016 made a truly striking kit by printing giant strawberries on the front, C.D. Pinzon. A design almost identical to the one seen in the lookbook, with a very realistic and almost disturbing effect in full Palace style. Prints and fruit in fact have always been present in the designs of the skateboard brand as well as the recovery of vintage logos similar to those applied on the jerseys, which vary from classic gold from a retro one with a lot of monogram to a more futuristic 80s one in purple. Completing the jerseys are emblems made for the occasion, circular with tricolor, gold details and the name of the Palazzo Gucci collection used as the club's name. 

Then again, Palace is certainly no stranger to the football world, having made a jersey in collaboration with Juventus just a few seasons ago, and similarly Gucci has begun to look toward the world's most watched sport by signing Manchester City fantasist Jack Grealish as its Brand Ambassador. And even one of this season's most anticipated collaborations could not resist the increasingly overpowering appeal of the bloke-core style.