The Italian designer Giorgio Armani loves a bold piece of headgear and this season he fashioned large bowler-style crowns on the tops of his hats for Emporio Armani. The oversized volume was a theme that weaved in and out of the collection as Armani introduced a new cropped wide-leg pant that was blown up with air. When cut in stiffened wool silk and paired with pointed flats the new silhouette looked fresh and fun. The more rigid materials - as opposed to drooping silks and velvets - had the most success in the collection. They looked terrific, for example, on structured swing skirts paired with cropped jackets or on a tank dress featuring a circular skirt that leaned beautifully away from the body. Shiny plastic neckwear almost took the collection off track but Armani got back on his rails with rows of miniature white beading that added graphic borders to his jackets, trousers and bags.
Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans
