Giorgio Armani Privé: Deliciously Beautiful & Wearable
By: Mari Davis & Michelle Taylor
Photos by FW

PARIS, Jul 7, 2005/ FW/ --- Giorgio Armani created a semi-ruckus in Paris when he made the cover of a French fashion magazine, saying, ‘Couture is dead, and I am here to save it.’

Expectedly, that comment both hurt and irritated more than a handful of the Parisians. In the city where haute couture was born, there was more than national pride at stake; it also struck right at the heart of French creativity, something that has been around since the reign of Louis XIV.

Yet, in more ways that one, the Italian design maestro hit a nerve. His appearance on the official haute couture calendar created interest in the media. After all, he is one of the most well known designers globally.

And though the comment might seem controversial to the more sensitive fashionistas, Giorgio Armani outspoken ways caught the attention of those who just have a casual interest in haute couture, specifically the echo boomer generation, a market segment that haute couture houses has continuously ignored.

So, yesterday, in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, all eyes were on Giorgio Armani as he kicked off the Fall 2005 haute couture season.

Sticking to what he does best, Giorgio Armani opted for pantsuits for daywear. The generously cut trousers that draped flawlessly on the model’s body were complimented with the snug fitting jackets that were either beaded, embroidered or smocked.

Armani who is a formidable tailor to begin with, raised the bar onto himself by creating women’s jackets that can compete with men’s suits.

Beautiful as the daywear, it was with the evening gowns that Armani did his best work. Simple silhouettes that were both structured and fluid at the same time, as the skirt flared or flowed at the hem, the exquisite embroidery and beading did not detract the impeccable tailoring.

Armani dressed ‘the woman’ while making the gowns, enhancing their beauty while keeping the clothes as striking as they could be.

Deliciously beautiful and wearable, Armani hit a younger audience with this collection, Gen X to be exact. And hopefully, the echo boomers will follow. After all, the twenty-something of today are haute couture’s clientele in a few short years.

Giorgio Armani Privé

Giorgio Armani Privé

Giorgio Armani Privé

Giorgio Armani Privé