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Halle Bailey, Hanni, and Julia Garner starring in a Gucci campaign together was definitely a surprise on my 2023 fashion bingo card, but noteworthy nonetheless. For the relaunch of the Horsebit 1955, the Italian house tapped the unexpected trio of zeitgeisty stars (Bailey will play Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid; Hanni, a Gucci global brand ambassador, plans to make her Lollapalooza debut with the K-pop girl group NewJeans; and Ozark’s Garner, who last mimicked Anna Delvey’s hilariously bizarre accent in Inventing Anna, is reportedly keeping her “fingers crossed” for the Madonna biopic) to model the iconic accessory.
An archival image of a leather Gucci bag from 1955 featuring the Horsebit hardware.
To the uninitiated, the new-and-improved Horsebit 1955 might bear a strong resemblance to the initial design from six decades ago, introduced two years after the hardware appeared in the brand’s collections. But the reimagined version as we know it today was, in fact, first presented at the Capitoline Museums during Gucci’s cruise 2020 show. Easily distinguishable by its archival equestrian emblem, the perpetually coveted, celebrity-loved bag still features the trademark double ring and bar, which drew inspiration from horseback riding—specifically, the snaffle on a horse’s bridle—a favorite hobby among Gucci customers from the get-go (because, the ’50s). Now, the Horsebit is featured on a plethora of prints and accessories from the house, including its famous loafers. Though the Horsebit 1955 honors Gucci codes, the latest iteration comes in a range of silhouettes (think: a dome-shaped top-handle), as well as sizes, colors, and materials for a “choose your own adventure” type of styling experience.
In a new campaign shot by Mert & Marcus, premiering exclusively on ELLE.com, Bailey, Hanni, and Garner, who’s also one of the faces of Gucci Guilty, team up for an intimate portrait series where they each pose with the Horsebit in their own unique way, bringing the past firmly into the present, as three women who are currently owning their respective fields. With that in mind, ahead of the campaign launch, we asked the trio: How do you find your personal style? Keep scrolling to find out why Bailey values comfort, Hanni loves to experiment, and Garner looks to her grandmother.
Hanni, Julia Garner, and Halle Bailey attend Gucci’s fall/winter 2023 show.
Halle Bailey
“I’ve always looked up to my big sister, Chloe, for style inspiration. To me, comfort is important, but I also want to feel a little sexy when I dress up. The key is to find pieces that feel genuine and reflect your personality.”
Hanni
“At the moment, I love to experiment with different styles—it’s a great way to have fun expressing yourself. The most important thing is that I feel comfortable and confident in a look.”
Julia Garner
“My grandmother is my style icon. Her generation dressed up, and I love that. I’ve found my style by leaning into the fun of clothing. I feel most confident in classics, but it always needs to have a little edge.”
Watch Halle Bailey, Hanni, and Julia Garner in Gucci’s new campaign video, below:
Deputy Editor
Claire Stern is the Deputy Editor of ELLE.com. Previously, she served as Editor at Bergdorf Goodman. Her interests include fashion, food, travel, music, Peloton, and The Hills—not necessarily in that order. She used to have a Harriet the Spy notebook and isn’t ashamed to admit it.