What an exciting show! The audience was packed with celebrities, and Giorgio Armani did not disappoint! Watch the video, read what people are saying, and check out the looks below..
PARIS, January 24, 2011
By Tim Blanks
The front row at the Privé show included Sophia Loren, Jodie Foster, and Olivia Wilde, three generations of stars united by their appreciation of Giorgio Armani's ability to, as Foster put it, "capture who I am, be the best I can be." But Armani has reached a stage in his life where he no longer cares about pleasing anyone except himself. So he delivered a collection that will startle longtime admirers and add more fodder to that long-overdue reevaluation.
Inspired, he said, by the gleam of gemstones, Armani produced clothes that came from another planet, the same one that Pierre Cardin and Thierry Mugler might have touched down on once. (It's already been suggested its name could be Gaga.) The first outfit—jacket, skirt, and leggings—shimmered around the model's body like liquid mercury. Her metallic saucer of a hat—one of many made by Philip Treacy for the collection—beamed in signals from above. The ensemble set the tone for the sci-fi extravaganza that followed. "Tron-y, a bit," said Wilde, who should know.
The show never stopped shimmering. By some feat of fabric technology, a mirror effect managed to give organza a reflective quality. Silk was threaded with metal to produce a sheen. Sweeping collars and bodices that looked molded from some hard alien material were actually supple and light. The sci-fi aspect was reinforced by silhouettes curved and carved to rearticulate the body. One striking example (in Armani's signature greige, come to think of it) sliced the dress off at the hips, dropped a few inches, then picked up again in a fall to the floor. But inside those missing few inches was a bright, undulating slash of scarlet. Armani explored something similar in a one-shouldered blue gown, cut out at the side to reveal a sheath of scaly blue sequins. He definitely had the courage of his convictions with this technique, putting a little distance between the skirt and the body over and again. The models looked like they were shedding their dresses, like second skins. But it didn't work so well when Armani used an inverted sculpted volume that recalled Roman couturier Roberto Capucci.
Breastplates of large colored stones were a bold option for evening. An alternative to the UFO headgear was a fencing mask studded with crystals. It was Foster's first-ever fashion show, and she was mesmerized. "Wild, theatrical, futuristic, a theater of the exotic," she called it. But would she wear it? "No, absolutely not," she said with a laugh. And you get the feeling that Armani, happily courting unpredictability, would appreciate such honesty.
Bianca Balti
Siri Tollerod
Kamilia Filipcikova
Julija Steponaviciute
Julia Johansen
Sigrid Agren
Agnese Zogla
Anastasia Gorodilova
Alana Zimmer
Elsa Sylvan
Anna Selezneva
Penelope Wulff
(is that her bra showing? Please say no!)
Beautiful! I loved it! Though as the reviewer said it did feel like Gaga was his inspiration. Disco dress? Breastplates that make the boobs pop out? The crazy material and exaggerated hips? All very Gaga-esque. But stunning. A true masterpiece in art form. I wish the music was more inspiring though. I love the fact that the makeup was stark and wild but still fashionable.
What's funny is I didn't really see it as very Gaga. Maybe the waist up, yes, but I can't really see Gaga wearing these as they are. But the funky jackets and the jewelled masks, oh yeah.
I love the metallics, and the crazy things he does with layers. I can see Rihanna in the last blue Kim Noorda. I can see Gaga or Rihanna in the tops that are basically strategically placed jewels. But the majority of the looks, while I LOVE them, I can't picture who the client will be. They're not exactly red carpet looks!
I saw Gaga right away but not for her to wear. Rather her essence for a different, more conservative, and less artsy, crowd.
Rihanna would look stunning in these. I don't think she would wear the hats but yeah. And I think we will see some looks on the red carpets. I just don't think they will be worn well.
And Gaga would wear them but not in a show or a public thing. She was into a skirt phases a while ago. Anyway this show is more than her. I think it could be epic in a sci-fi story. I'd love to pic a few looks and design a character around the gown. Just without the hats. I don't like the hats.
I don't like the hats either. do you have any idea how hard it was to ID the models when all you see is their lips? LOL.
I think this stuff would look awesome in music videos. I'm trying to think of a Red Carpet event where this would be suitable. Maybe MMVAs or Peoples Choice, where it's less formal? I'd like to see someone try to rock these looks!
Beautiful! I loved it! Though as the reviewer said it did feel like Gaga was his inspiration. Disco dress? Breastplates that make the boobs pop out? The crazy material and exaggerated hips? All very Gaga-esque. But stunning. A true masterpiece in art form. I wish the music was more inspiring though. I love the fact that the makeup was stark and wild but still fashionable.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny is I didn't really see it as very Gaga. Maybe the waist up, yes, but I can't really see Gaga wearing these as they are. But the funky jackets and the jewelled masks, oh yeah.
ReplyDeleteI love the metallics, and the crazy things he does with layers. I can see Rihanna in the last blue Kim Noorda. I can see Gaga or Rihanna in the tops that are basically strategically placed jewels. But the majority of the looks, while I LOVE them, I can't picture who the client will be. They're not exactly red carpet looks!
I saw Gaga right away but not for her to wear. Rather her essence for a different, more conservative, and less artsy, crowd.
ReplyDeleteRihanna would look stunning in these. I don't think she would wear the hats but yeah.
And I think we will see some looks on the red carpets. I just don't think they will be worn well.
And Gaga would wear them but not in a show or a public thing. She was into a skirt phases a while ago. Anyway this show is more than her. I think it could be epic in a sci-fi story. I'd love to pic a few looks and design a character around the gown. Just without the hats. I don't like the hats.
I don't like the hats either. do you have any idea how hard it was to ID the models when all you see is their lips? LOL.
ReplyDeleteI think this stuff would look awesome in music videos. I'm trying to think of a Red Carpet event where this would be suitable. Maybe MMVAs or Peoples Choice, where it's less formal? I'd like to see someone try to rock these looks!
Yeah, I think that it would be very hard to rock it though. Props to who ever does.
ReplyDelete