Emporio Armani: Are you ready to be conquered?

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Time goes by faster than we realize, and while the fall just started and most of us are pulling our coats, tights and boots out of the closet, truth is designers are covering their little mannequins with short dresses and warm colors to walk the runway. Why? Well, simple! Because fashion changes with the blink of an eye, and couturiers have to be ready to satisfy eager fashionistas who have to be “in” all day, every day. Obviously, they can’t wait until the season is over to go prepare their outfits for the next one, precisely because preparation requires time. What if all the labels and maisons decided to show their collections one week before the next season started? God bless us all!

Anyway, I don’t want any of us staying behind, so due to the circumstances, I’m starting with the Spring-Summer 2013 collection, and as said on the title, I chose Armani’s collection to serve our purpose. Why Armani? Because honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to the high-end-executive look and we can always use some help to know how to bring some vogue spirit to our offices, meetings, formal school presentations or job interviews.

1) Look A

I mean, yes, the rest of the designers we’ve examined have one or two executive looks, but lets face it, this area is Armani’s empire. Are you ready to be part of it? Are you ready to be conquered? Here, my Top Three:

1) Look A.  Goodbye, symmetry! Let’s break the rules a little here, shall we? If you read last week’s blog (as I hope you did) you’ll recall Gaultier’s fall-winter 2012-2013 collection was all about what Armani’s violating here: symmetry. Well, my friends, weren’t we talking about how fast fashion changes? Anyway, I love the lightness of the blouse, don’t you? It’s interesting how transparencies here are more opaque than last season. Also, there’s no skin showing under the clothing, but that’s mainly because that isn’t something the label loves to do. I’m in love with the skirt, which is very classical and contrasts with the unusual cut of its upper body compliment. It’s funny because if you see half of the outfit vertically, one half looks like a dress and the other like two different clothes. The colors are very light, again, to repeal the heat, and the metallic touch gives it a sophisticated air that lets us know who’s the boss.

2) Look B

2) Look B. Uh! Leather with texture!  Absolutely genius. I love the idea of wearing something that isn’t a jacket or a sweater or a blazer over the dress, simply because it innovates and originality is something the world craves. The dress is all right, I mean, it’s got a very traditional cut, the grey fabric under the light brown one makes gives it a complexity that boosts the look and makes the dress look longer, even though it’s obviously quite short. The leather blouse on top contributes to this optical illusion. Tip: buttoning the first button (yeah) of the accessory clothe on top makes you look thinner. Also more conservative, so be careful and use your judgment; else you’ll look like a very young grandma.

3) Look C

3) Look C. I. WANT. THAT. BLOUSE. What an idea! Really! Oh, and using black and white, the most powerful combo ever… just breathtaking. See how the sides of the blouse are longer and pointy? Well, it works for making us look thinner; as well as letting the darkest color be the dominant one. Take a look at the pattern on the skirt, see how again, it’s very classical but it’s contrasting with the abstract cuts of the blouse and the skirt itself? Also, the fabric is sort of plasticized, which adds modernity to the whole thing. Fun fact: the plasticized fabric reflects the light, which is almost like having our own spotlight as we walk, isn’t it amazing?

So, how can we summarize what we have learned about Armani? Like this: They like to 1) take classics and twist them up a little by 2) complementing classics with unusual textures and shapes. Post modernism on the runway, see? That’s why I say fashion is simply art in motion.

Well, it’s time to say goodbye, crazy diamonds! I hope you’re completely conquered by Armani as I am and well, see you next week! Shine all over and dream on! Lotta Love.

P.S. Follow me on twitter: @alanandall

P.S.2 All the photos were taken from Vogue.fr; enjoy!

http://www.vogue.fr/defiles/printemps-ete-2013-milan-emporio-armani-1/6893/diaporama/defile-2032/9962/pag