EXCLUSIVE: Gucci Dresses Florence Welch on Her Summer Tour

The dog days of summer are just beginning — and that means Florence Welch’s tour is about to start, too! Beginning tomorrow, the songstress — the driving force behind Florence + the Machine — will bring her sweet vocals to cities from Berkeley to Boston, and she’ll be doing so in style. Gucci tells PEOPLE exclusively that creative director Frida Giannini designed Welch’s tour wardrobe, which consists of ethereal gowns accented with whimsical touches. “When Florence first came onto the scene, I was captivated by her eccentric style and her willingness to dare,” Giannini says in a release. “I felt there was such an authentic energy to her sound and her look. That was confirmed when I met her at the Grammys earlier this year.” The designer admits that the singer inspired her autumn/winter 2011 collection — and she even set her show to one of Welch’s songs, “Hurricane Drunk.” “[She's] a modern day icon with her cinematic allure and powerful presence,” Giannini adds. For her part, Welch is understandably flattered. “I was completely bowled over by her collection,” she says. “The dresses seemed perfect for my shows, the colours, the shapes, the movement in the fabric. So it seemed natural that we work together on creating some pieces for my upcoming U.S. tour.” When Welch takes the stage at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tenn., on Friday, she’ll be draped in some of Giannini’s designs, including a swirling dotted gown, seen in the exclusive sketch on the left, and a sexier, floral-bedecked number (right). Welch enthuses, “I’m very grateful to Frida, it’s been a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to get dressed for the stage!” Tell us: What do you think of Welch’s Gucci costumes? –Kate Hogan