Harry Styles and Gucci announced a joint clothing collection

On Monday, Harry Styles and Gucci revealed a collaborative clothing collection, formalizing their long-standing fashion connection. The HA HA HA (a fun homage to the pair's initials) 25-look collection, co-designed by Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele and Styles, will hit Gucci stores in October. The garments, which include sport coats with meaty lapels, neckerchiefs, and glen-plaid topcoats, have a distinct '70s vibe and were introduced alongside decades-old pieces in a Milanese vintage store.

 “We were sharing for a long time images of eccentric men from that era,” Mr. Michele said of the inspiration.

Mr. Styles, the flopsy-haired ex-One Direction star, has been a dedicated Gucci muse throughout his solo career, routinely sporting the label's unique designs on stage and in photoshoots. Mr. Styles donned a tiered Gucci dress on the cover of Vogue magazine in December 2020, confirming his status as a current style icon while causing outrage among fashion critics.

Mr. Michele noted during a press conference announcing the collection that creating it was "sort of like working at home on a rainy day with two friends, producing something to have fun." The artist, who is on the road promoting his new album "Harry's House," was not present.

Mr. Michele said they started working on the designs really about a year ago and did a lot of it through WhatsApp and at dinners. Mr. Michele explained that working together offered the pals an occasion to visit each other. Gucci's new business strategy is reflected in the HA HA HA collection. Kering, Gucci's parent company, disclosed ambitions to increase the Italian label's yearly revenues to €15 billion from €9.71 billion earlier this month during a presentation to investors and analysts, owing to "the high potential of Young Millennials and Gen Z" consumers.

Gucci has attracted younger, wealthier customers through rarefied, flashy clothing under Mr. Michele's supervision. A poppy, pattern-filled collaboration with German sportswear giant Adidas drew large lineups at Gucci outlets earlier this month.