I’m calling the spring 2015 Armani Prive collection of Haute
Couture the Straw and Hay show. I know I can clearly see that the big poles on
the runway are a hyper modern representation of bamboo. I can see that bamboo
is a running motif along with Asian details like wide obi belts.
The super chill palettes of deep navy, grey and herbal green
are elegant in that expected Armani way. It is the shiny fabrics, loopy fringe,
stiff reedy fringe that I didn’t expect. As sophisticated an image as Giorgio
Armani has cultivated, the man does have a sense of humor. I like that he mixed
some contemporary, almost nutty novelty pieces with his uber sleek socialite
bait. This is a man who played an Italian Prime Minister on Saturday Night Live and
then told the host “nice suit” after all. He is a man who was not offended when
a snarky reporter asked “Why always beige?”.
Giorgio Armani often likes to include botanical patterns of
some sort, so an exotic bamboo leaf was this season’s winner. Instead of
literal kimono sleeves or wraps that many other designers have done, the
evening gowns had interesting pleats or asymmetrical hems. In fact, the fuller
silhouettes on the catwalk took its muse more from a Korean Jaegori than what
most people think is a kimono.
With all the wide obi belts on the runway this year, I’m wondering
how many buckle makers have filed for bankruptcy. The models hair was slicked,
and parted down the middle in a severe style. Some models wore huge statement
earrings or none at all.
The Armani Prive Haute Couture collection was the gorgeous
Giorgio Armani show you wanted it to be with some fun surprises!
Photos from FirstView/FashionWeekDaily
