Aquariva by Gucci
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| Riva craftsmen working on Tritone models circa 1950 | |
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| Elizabeth Taylor comes ashore in a Junior Riva, 1967 | |
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| The Aquariva by Gucci includes the luxury brand’s logo and signature red-and-green stripe |
Ever since Lincoln enlisted the likes of Bill Blass and Pucci for a series of tricked-out Town Cars in the ’70s, pairing design houses with luxury vehicles has resulted in a simple but satisfying value-add: Own one, and you’ve got bragging rights in both worlds. The yachting world followed suit with vessels codesigned by Thierry Mugler and Elie Saab. Now it’s Gucci that’s hoping to leave the competition in its wake, collaborating with storied Italian boatmaker Riva.
The Aquariva by Gucci is an evolution of the Riva’s famous Aquarama—which, back in the day, was the status symbol for Riviera hotshots like Aristotle Onassis, Prince Rainier and the Aga Khan. This beauty is one of many special initiatives designed to celebrate the Florentine fashion house’s 90th anniversary.
Gucci (which, for the record, partnered with Cadillac on a special-edition Seville in 1979) has kept the boat’s classic sex appeal intact; the clean lines and mahogany surfaces look as sophisticated as ever. Painted Gucci’s tone of glossy white, the fiberglass hull cuts through water like a bolt of lightning, the brand’s signature red-and-green tri-stripe neatly demarcating the waterline.
Each boat has 380hp and a cruising speed of 41 knots, and is made to order at Riva’s factory on Lake Iseo in Italy. Gucci creative director Frida Giannini also commissioned a complementary accessories collection that includes a matching picnic set, shoes, silk scarf, watch, beach towel and sunglasses to match. Chic travel bags are embossed in the same Guccissima print that accents the waterproof fabric on the seats and sundeck—but they’re also available separately, just in case you can’t quite bring yourself to rock the boat. riva-yacht.com
