L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS An accessory is a powerful tool that can transform an outfit an any given time. With one stroke, the right pair of shoes, a bag, or a careful conglomeration of jewelry, add character to a basic garment or can give an older dress a new configuration. "Elegance is not about being noticed, it's about being remem- bered," Armani says. The show, which also displays videos of fashion edito- rials and advertising campaigns, tells Armani's vision that has radically changed fashion. This year marks his 45 years into an extraordinary career. "To me, style is an all- embracing code, which compels us to be consistent when what is needed is a flash of inventive- ness, the surprise flair of creativ- ity," says Armani. "Sometimes it can be a constraint, a rule that tolerates few digressions." Then, he adds: "Style makes you unique and recognizable, while it distills the tastes, trends, and cul- tures that enliven the world. Its beauty lies in the fact that it does not follow a general rule— although it is dictatorial towards those who recognize it—democ- ratically it is very personal." Born in Piacenza on July 11, 1934, Armani studied Medicine at the State University of Milan, before dropping out of university for his bigger calling: clothes. He started out as a window dresser, working at La Rinascente department store in Milan. In 1961 he was spotted by Nino Cerruti and hired as the designer for his new menswear line. He went freelance in 1970, starting his own label in 1975. Then, he did know what he wanted. He was motivated by the desire to unstuff the men's jack- ets, infuse them with a level of unprecedented comfort. His revolution was both pro- fessional and cultural. His unstructured jackets, with padding and lining removed, were soft, yet still defining the torso with quiet strength. Later, those tailored garments with pajama-like ease also made women live differently through their clothing. Almost another society was created, yet his anti- established clothing was saluted as shocking at first. Armani's beauty is the imagi- native enjoyment of the pleasure of forms that seamlessly blend with the beauty of comfort, sophistication, and craftsman- ship. Reason and rationale are involved in his experience of fashion that mirrors societies in flux. His accessories talk about the present time and create a contemporary meaning of seduc- tion. His ballet style flats are state- ment pieces that infuse an air of confidence together with a stable and slender posture. Giorgio Armani was the first to pair super-practical ballerina shoes with evening dresses. Equally, his slingbacks and pumps make you gravitationally grounded to be used for everyday style. His bag styles mix natural leather and fabrics, silk and rep- tile skin. I adored the Plissé bag and the oversized clutches in vivid colors. About the creativity behind his jewelry, he explains: "I like the idea of going beyond my limits. I like the idea of pushing myself further and always taking on new challenges. Thereafter, I'm carrying on with my experi- ments and having fun." He creat- ed brooches in the shape of shiny insects and decorated his neck- laces with fabrics, mixing velvet, silk, and tulle with stones. It highlighted a type of modernity that echoes his back pages and call attention to colors, concepts, moods, leading visitors to a dream-like world. Mr. Armani threw his unique design skills into launching his first accessory collection in the late '80s. His accessories, the result of constant experimenta- tion with materials, equally sum- marize his vision: the essence of style is a simple way of saying something complex. Continued from page 4 The exhibit Accenti di Stile has been curated by Giorgio Armani himself (Photo Courtesy of Giorgio Armani) Iconic Armani accessories on display at Accenti di Stile (Photo Courtesy of Giorgio Armani)

• Cover