The Gucci fascination began early in the Carlson household, Devon Lee Carlson admits as she recalls her sister’s obsession with the brand growing up. “She even had a Gucci-themed birthday cake,” Carlson shares with Who What Wear. Since early days celebrating with GG cakes, the social media star, model, and Wildflower Cases co-founder has become a bona fide Gucci girl, sitting front row at a number of the brand’s runway shows including its latest cruise 2026 collection in Florence—the locale where the Italian fashion house was founded 104 years ago in 1921.
This Gucci show marks the first collection since Demna’s appointment as artistic director. Although, the fashion industry will have to wait until his debut collection at the spring 2026 show in September to see his vision for the brand. The collection, presented by the in-house studio team, already shows early signs of Demna’s influence, blended with iconic motifs from the brand’s history—the sexiness of Tom Ford, the quirky prints of Alessandro Michele, the strong tailoring of Sabato De Sarno. The Gucci woman is playful yet sophisticated, mixing plush coats and leather pencil skirts with acetate aviator sunglasses and splashes of neon. The looks on the runway tap into the many reasons Carlson feels so connected to the brand and its history. “I’m channeling a Tom Ford Gucci girl in this look tonight,” she shared while getting ready in her hotel room, opting for black eyeliner and a shiny blowout to pair with her head-to-toe black sequined Gucci look. We caught up with Carlson just as she was leaving the Gucci 2026 cruise runway show.
Do you have any pre-show routines or rituals?
Well, when I’m watching a show, I usually nine out of 10 times have an espresso martini before. It just feels so celebratory and necessary—really gets me in the mood.
What is something about your runway show prep that people wouldn’t expect?
When I’m attending a show, I don’t really pre-plan my hair and makeup looks. It’s just whatever I’m feeling at that moment.
