Steve Barth
Giorgio Armani presented a Venetian-inspired couture collection at Armani Privé, departing from his usual non-color scheme to create a rainbow of hues. The show, staged inside the Garde Républicaine, featured boleros, peg legs pants, and silk slimline jodhpurs, as well as tiny hats, mini demi-berets, and quarter corporals’ caps. For evening, Giorgio went for densely sequined columns and slinky crystal encrusted movie star gowns. The designer noted that “the rococo interiors of Venetian palazzos” inspired the collection, which was received with a standing ovation. The show included a good dozen black models, and had a unified front row featuring sisters Carla and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Jean Todt, and Michelle Yeoh. Many of the looks are expected to make an appearance on the Oscars red carpet next month.
