Emporio Armani S/S 2018

Mood board: The show was billed as ‘a dialogue with Japan of an other era’. The collection unfolded into a series of fluid, tailored pieces and lavish hakama-style trousers in traditional suiting and silks. Armani sent out groupings of models each in a specific style and naturally there was a lot of navy, grey and well cut suiting. Standout were the more directional long-line tailored pieces with zipped vents at the back worn underneath three-button suit jackets. The trousers for S/S 2018 had wide single pleats at the front and were cut at the ankle.
Finishing touches: Milan loves a Millennial. Ahead of Dolce & Gabbana’s lengthy show with its 106 influencer models, Emporio Armani ended its show with the unveiling of a new smart-watch line, dubbed ‘Connected’ and fronted by the singer Shawn Mendes. For the whole weekend, thousands of teenage girls have caused traffic jams outside the Armani hotel on Via Alessandro Manzoni to steal a selfie with the Canadian megastar. Mendes appears in a video to promote the watch, which was screened at the end of the S/S 2018 catwalk show. In it, he plays his hit song Mercy via his smartwatch, dancing as electronic waves rush through a cityscape. Armani described Mendes as ‘a singer of true talent who touches the hearts of his fans.’ One who is sure to introduce Armani Connected to his millions of devotees.
Best in show: Floral silk blousons and jacquards, koi carp intarsia sweaters and leather lace-work jackets in red created a happy marriage between Japanese iconography and Armani codes. Before Mendes’ appearance, seven models walked out in a series of Aikido-style uniforms in floral jacquard, led by a high-kicking martial arts performer.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
London based writer Dal Chodha is editor-in-chief of Archivist Addendum — a publishing project that explores the gap between fashion editorial and academe. He writes for various international titles and journals on fashion, art and culture and is a contributing editor at Wallpaper*. Chodha has been working in academic institutions for more than a decade and is Stage 1 Leader of the BA Fashion Communication and Promotion course at Central Saint Martins. In 2020 he published his first book SHOW NOTES, an original hybrid of journalism, poetry and provocation.
-
Dine within a rationalist design gem at the newly opened Cucina Triennale
Cucina Triennale is the latest space to open at Triennale Milano, a restaurant and a café by Luca Cipelletti and Unifor, inspired by the building's 1930s design
-
The collections you might have missed this S/S 2026 menswear season
Between the headliners in Paris, Milan and Florence, a few off-schedule displays are deserving of honourable mention – from Martine Rose’s sexually-charged portrait of Kensington Market to Sander Lak’s appointment-only namesake debut
-
Meet artist Michael McGregor, using hotel stationery as his canvas
Michael McGregor unveils an exclusive postcard set made with notepads from The Luxury Collection properties in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Savannah
-
With an ode to Italy, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake brings its brand of fashion magic to Florence’s Pitti Uomo
Marking the start of a new nomadic way of showing for the Japanese label, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake held its S/S 2026 show at Florence’s Villa Medicea della Petraia as part of Pitti Uomo last night (18 June) with a collection inspired by the colours and textures of Italy
-
Milan exhibition celebrates 20 years of Armani Privé: ‘Haute couture is fashion when it becomes art’
Hosted at the Tadao Ando-designed Armani/Silos, ‘Giorgio Armani Privé 2005-2025, Twenty Years of Haute Couture’ displays an expansive collection of the Italian designer’s showstopping haute couture creations
-
First look at Our Legacy’s cat-adorned Emporio Armani collaboration
Feline forms appear throughout a new collection from Emporio Armani and Swedish brand Our Legacy (out 17 November 2023), combining the brands’ unique aesthetics
-
Giorgio Armani’s tennis-inspired collection celebrates a longtime love of the game
The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at London’s Hurlingham Club brought together the game’s biggest stars in the run-up to Wimbledon. In celebration, the house has created a capsule collection that mines tennis’ traditional dress codes for inspiration
-
Milan Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2023: Fendi to Prada
From Prada’s exploration of archetypal menswear garments to JW Anderson’s much-anticipated debut in the city, the best of Milan Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2023, as it happens
-
Milan Fashion Week A/W 2022: Prada to Bottega Veneta
In this extended report, Scarlett Conlon reports live from the Milan Fashion Week A/W 2022 shows, with rolling coverage as they take place on the runway
-
Milan Fashion Week A/W 2021: designers riff on romp and relaxation
Milan Fashion Week offered a wardrobe for life after lockdown, by brands including Fendi, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino and Giorgio Armani
-
Sweats and sequins: the duality of dressing at Milan Fashion Week S/S 2021
Brands from Dolce & Gabbana to Valentino considered post pandemic dressing, with escapist and pragmatic silhouettes presented with aplomb