Emporio Armani Spring/Summer 2018

Drawing upon Eastern references is nothing new for today’s designers. The serene beauty of many Asian cultures is a fountain of inspiration that continues to play out in our globalized fashion system. Mr. Giorgio Armani looked to Japanese origins for his Emporio line for spring, infusing its traditional elements with his signature tailoring. Flashes of fiery red appeared throughout the sea of grey and navy the house is known for. Kimono style robes were layered over slim suiting while elastic waistband culottes were worn over tapered pants. Silk jacquard cropped jackets delivered on all counts, as did the lug soled shoes but unfortunately everything else seemed somewhat stagnant and repetitive. While Mr. Armani is able to experiment more with this more youthful label, it lacked some of the more statement pieces needed to make an impact. But then again, there’s only so much one can do to generate enough interest in a brand whose bread and butter is sharp tailoring. Employing the young Canadian sensation Shawn Mendes at the end of his show felt like a final attempt at courting younger shoppers. Hopefully Armani will harness that youthful energy into putting out more directional pieces next season.