Throughout my life, I’ve lived in metropolitan centres like New York, Los Angeles, and London, where I was born. I also built a house in the California desert, but never thought I would fall for the seductive charm of the Gstaad Valley. The tiny village of Gsteig offers me an idyllic and timeless retreat that feels like a step back into a simpler, more peaceful era as well as a serene refuge where nature, culture, and tradition blend seamlessly to create an exceptional living experience.

Its natural beauty is nothing short of breathtaking. Surrounded by towering peaks, lush meadows, meandering rivers, and pristine forests, the village is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts like me and my partner Greg. The air is crisp and clean, with the majestic mountains providing a stunning backdrop throughout the year. In the winter months, the landscape transforms into a sparkling white wonderland, offering us snowshoeing and skiing. During the warmer seasons, the valleys bloom with colourful wildflowers, and the hiking trails invite exploration through tranquil alpine settings, where we often spot marmots, ibex, and an array of local bird life. Having first settled in Geneva after leaving London, we both felt transported here, not to mention fortunate to have found a 16th century chalet in the village centre. This winter, the soft glow of chalet windows casts a warm, inviting light over the snowy landscape evoking a sense of cosiness or Gemütlichkeit that is hard to match. Local festivals, folkloric music, and celebrations like the annual Alpabzug (the return of cattle from the high Alpine pastures) keep the spirit of tradition alive. The village is small enough to offer a strong sense of community – our neighbours are always ready to lend a helping hand – but large enough to ensure that all essential services are within reach: the local greengrocer provides fresh, high-quality produce; whilst farming, beekeeping, and gardening contribute to the self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle that we both embrace and cherish. As teenagers, Greg and I attended Aiglon College in neighbouring Villars-sur-Ollon and often visited the area on our weekend expeditions, so it remains a place where we feel very much at home. We both also love it for its relative proximity to Italy, as my hand luggage brand, Aviteur, is based in Milan. Being able to drive back and forth is yet another advantage. To my great delight, my middle daughter, Victoria who lives in Milan, and has worked at Aviteur since the outset, visits us here often with her two children. My two other daughters live in California.

Accustomed to a hectic life, I was struck by the local slogan: Come up, slow down which suits me perfectly. In my youth, my family kept residences in Ascot, Berkshire; Manhattan; Beverly Hills, and in Palm Beach where my father founded the restaurant Club Colette: still striving today. As a young woman, I worked at Gucci in New York where I started a family of my own. Eventually, I moved to Southern California and built a house near Palm Desert which I visit whenever I can. There, I began writing my memoir which was a tribute to my father who put me to work straight out of school: first as a stylist, and later as a brand ambassador. Though I had dreamt of being an actor, he groomed me for the family business from a young age. At only 15, I was flown from nearby Aiglon College to Beverly Hills in order to host a charity dinner with some of Hollywood’s most glamorous stars: June Allyson (1917– 2016) and Rita Hayworth (1918–1987).

The 1980s saw me often at Gucci events attended by the likes of Luciano Pavarotti (1935– 2007), a close family friend; Frank Sinatra (1915–1998); Cary Grant (1904–1986).

BY ALAN NAZAR IPEKIAN

PATRICIA GUCCI

was born in London and educated at Hurst Lodge School, Ascot, Berkshire; St George’s School, Rome and neighbouring Aiglon College. A resident of Gsteig, she keeps homes in Geneva, Rome, and Palm Desert, California. Having worked at Gucci until the company’s sale in the early 1990s, she became the first woman to be appointed to Gucci’s Board of Directors. In 2016, she published her memoir: "In the Name of Gucci", which was translated into 13 languages. In 2019, she founded the luggage and accessories brand Aviteur.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PATRICIA GUCCI
In the name of Gucci: a memoir
Also available in French, German, and 10 other languages

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Angini Pai photographed Patricia Gucci at her home in Gsteig, Switzerland.
Makeup by Amy Lane Brand and hair styling by Roxana Avram Häni