Eastern Accent

Paris, France - A Giorgio Armani collection is always a comforting one. The signature jackets are always present and so too, are the red-carpet worthy gowns. And it`s no different for the Spring/Summer 2009 women`s collection.

People keep coming back every season to see how he reinterprets his classics ever so subtly.

This season, there are lots of lightweight fabric giving a sense of movement, making his clothes just right for events and making an entrance. On many of the dresses, he employs liquid colour effects that resemble long brush strokes evoking the spirit of spring.

The skirts have puffed hems while the dresses have them tucked under. The trousers are slim and narrow, with drawstrings on some of the pieces. These and long flared shorts, and sometimes skirts are paired with lithe jackets which mainly come in single-button (but double-structured with organza or chiffon lining) style. These are either elongated or cropped, and lightly flared at the sides.

Cocktail dresses range from wispy short numbers to slightly billowy full-length ones. A favourite is a one-shoulder draped dress with fold trimming.

The evening gowns are the usual stunners with sparkle but they don`t “over bling”.

Arresting one-shoulder dress with fold trimming.

With the men`s collection, it`s all about fusion and Armani`s Asian inspirations. The head-turners are the trousers, which are lightweight in Shangtung silk.

Nods are given to Indian, Balinese and Malaysian styling. And what, pray tell, are Malaysian trousers? This probably refers to the trousers in Baju Melayu style as some of them are loose fitting and look like capri pants. The Indian-inspired ones are dhoti-like, some of them employ drawstrings while others have knotted scarves as belt replacements.

And there are even brightly-coloured silk pyjamas to make sure you have Armani dreams! These are matched with deconstructed jackets with Prince of Wales checks and chalk stripes that are slightly shorter and slimmer than usual. They can be worn with double-breasted waistcoats or loose untucked shirts, or a chemise that has an oriental nod.

There are the usual blues and greys but the colour palette is generally diversified with subtle shades.

It`s standard Armani fare but with a range of options that spell “relax”. S.S. YOGA

Source: http://thestar.com.my (11 May 2009)

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