Does this ever happen to you? You spend plenty of time combing over an industry or genre of life (e.g. fashion) and somehow you overlook a classic, strong player? In the past several years, I’ve picked apart and learned the history of just about every major fashion label. That is, except Giorgio Armani.
When I was in high school, AX Armani Exchange was an exotic and largely unattainable label that felt very high fashion. I had friends who would save up $1000 and then go to New York for a weekend to stock up. Since then, I’ve come to understand where it stands in the hierarchy of the house of Armani. At the top is Giorgio Armani. Below that is Armani Collezioni and Armani Casa. Even further below that is Emporio Armani and then followed by Armani Exchange, and Armani Jeans.
I haven’t given this brand (or house) much thought since the days when I actually liked Armani Exchange. However, I recently stumbled upon the Giorgio Armani section of NeimanMarcus.com and was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and simplicity (and great use of my favorite colors…gray, black and blue) of the current collection. My favorite ‘looks’ are the fourth on the page (herringbone zip jacket and pants) and the sixth on the page (short coat and diagonal check sweater). For some reason, as soon as I explored the details of these outfits, I could just see my future, my life, how I want to look when I am old and stately. Truly though, those cuts are amazing and the fabric choices look positively delicious.
In any case, it was funny timing because yesterday the New York Times published a story about Giorgio Armani and his new 5th Avenue superstore.
Just wanted to point out my sudden and unexpected fanfare for this old-school stalwart.
Photo: Jamel Toppin for the New York Times
