Giorgio Armani: The Manly Man
By Michelle Taylor
Photos by Giovanni Pucci

MILAN, Aug 2, 2004/ FW/ --- With all the publicity about the disagreement between Giorgio Armani S.P.A. and the New York Times, it's time to take a second look at the Giorgio Armani Menswear Spring 2005 collection shown here in Milan last July 1.

To most men who had worn an Armani suit, they describe it as ‘the suit for the manly man.’ That’s an apt description. The design maestro can cut a mean suit, evidence of his mastery of tailoring techniques and fertile imagination though he just celebrated his 70th birthday.

The Spring 2005 menswear collection is a show of Giorgio Armani’s (photo at left) masterful hands when it comes to men’s suits, specifically the jacket wherein he showed 14 different cuts, from the “standard” Armani that can make both John Kerry and President George Bush look more presidential, to the avant-garde pin-stripe suits that David Bowie can wear during his tour.

Going for tone on tone either by fabric or by color, the collection took everyone into consideration, from Gen Y to Gen X and the baby boomers running for an elected office.

Giorgio Armani also introduced a style of “collar,” the one that curls inward at the end. The shirt can be worn with our without a tie. Made with sheen fabric, it’s truly a great addition to a man’s wardrobe.

And as always with a Giorgio Armani collection, the luxurious fabrics used in the construction play a main role in the whole design. The stripes, diamonds, zigzags, and dots gave texture to the collection.

Armani even found time to rework the ‘cardigan,’ which enjoyed a great comeback on the Milan runways. Too bad that many Greek-lettered college kids could not afford it because the cardigans can turn a lot of coed heads.

Pants were generously cut, sometimes high waisted, and sometimes paired with suspenders. It’s a very relaxed look and to use a new American teen vernacular, it’s dope!

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani