Sabato De Sarno makes highly anticipated debut at Gucci under the gaze of Hollywood stars

By COLLEEN BARRY
AP Fashion Writer

MILAN (AP) — Sabato De Sarno wants people to fall in love with Gucci again, titling his debut collection “Gucci Ancora,” Italian for “Gucci Again.” The title is a touching admission of the challenges facing the 40-year-old designer, who joined Gucci this summer from Valentino, where he worked for 14 years, after stints at Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. De Sarno’s debut Friday, nine months after his appointment was announced in the wake of Alessandro Michele’s surprise departure, was the most anticipated on the Milan calendar. The ferment was enough to fill the front row with Hollywood A-listers like Julia Roberts and Ryan Gosling.