Giorgio Armani and his signature “greiges” make up a SS23 menswear collection which feels laid-back, elegant and summery all at once.
The Giorgio Armani show begins in pitch-dark blackness. There’s nothing to be experienced but the quizzical beats and the jungle sounds enveloping the room.
On cue, the lights fade into brightness, and we appear in a room plastered in sand patterns. The intimate runway space contrasts the sounds, which evoke nature and spaces of openness.
The first look to open the show is Armani’s staple “greige” suit, casually overlaid with some dotted fabric over the model’s shoulders.
Instead of the traditional Giorgio Armani trainers, this season the designer has proclaimed he is ultimately tired of them, so his models are sporting white sandals instead.
The first look to open the show is Armani’s staple “greige” suit, casually overlaid with some dotted fabric over the model’s shoulders. Instead of the traditional Giorgio Armani trainers, this season the designer has proclaimed he is ultimately tired of them, so his models are sporting white sandals instead.
The models make their way down the runway slowly, as if evoking the laid-backness that the very clothes they are sporting seem to convey. We see blues, interesting headwear, and classic sunglasses start to populate the runway.
There are jungle patterns too, particularly a top with an umbrella thorn tree plastered in green, matching the asymmetric bag the model is carrying.
In fact, the whole collection looks worthy of a safari venture; the breezy textures, muted colours, and fun patterns.
A change in music prompts a change in outwear, and the models begin to sport more knitted attires, always in blues and cream as well as the occasional silk garment.
The clothing no longer feels African-inspired, but instead adopts a more European twist with polka dots, loafers, and blazers. We start to see silk scarves around the model’s necks and more bags.
Once again, the music changes. The fashion, which seems to follow closely the style of music played in the background adapts accordingly. The introduction of a cello and a violin prompt more elegant and put-together looks with a strong emphasis on a variety of collars peeping over the patterned pull-overs.
The final music change calls for Armani to showcase long silk ties over silk patterned shirts. Hair is slicked back and models are showcasing plenty of open chests, oftentimes adorned with silk scarves loosely tied around their necks. We start seeing a cyclical nature to the show as the “greiges” come back into focus, similar but different to how they did at the start.
Giorgio Armani pops up at the end, a smile plastered across his face as he greets his audience. He’s wearing a simple navy top with navy trousers which create a sharp contrast to his golden tan and snow-white hair.