Mr. Armani, as he is always respectfully referred to, is well known for introducing seasonal tropes, while never deviating from his core principles. Close your eyes and think of Giorgio Armani, and what you’d inevitably come up with is the image of long, attenuated silhouettes, tailoring, and a sense of reserved glamour—something which hints at old Hollywood silver screen—which makes individuals shine.
All of this was yet again the case as he offered roses—roses, sequined roses, 3-D chiffon roses, conceptual roses—to his couture clients for fall. Armani’s treatment of them wasn’t strewn around in any operatic haute couture sense, but cultivated gradually, trimmed to each look and the multitude of personalities contained within his purview of fashion.
They appeared in a lacquered garland on a skirt paired with a black velvet jacket—its scrolled foliate neckline revealing a red satin lining. They were put to the service of minimalism in a black velvet column with a stunning scooped back criss-crossed by minute rose-studded rouleau straps. There were fragile embroideries on sheer dresses at one moment, then silhouettes entirely drenched in bold red sequins at others. Sometimes, they weren’t even red. Since there must be always be time and space for Armani tuxedo tailoring amongst the gowns, the roses were represented symbolically in buttonholes, pearlized to blend with oversize easy-to-wear jackets.
When he came out to take his bow, there was mighty applause. Next week, on July 11, Mr. Armani will be celebrating his 89th birthday, a legend of our times.
