ARMANI COLLEZIONI MENSWEAR, SPRING / SUMMER 2008 Press Release:
“To head off on holiday where the mood is totally relaxed. Where the natural colours of the ocean are bleached by the fierce sun. Where the tropical afternoon calls for ultra light fabrics – linen, cotton and viscose woven in typical tone on tone Armani designs. Where Bermudas (some with big cargo style pockets) teamed with jersey shirts, as well as blousons and parkas, are the focal point of the wardrobe. This is a collection in which every colour, subtle stylistic reference and inclination evokes the joy of travel, each item connected to the next by a strand of nautical crests and images that conjure up visions of the sea and a blissfully natural pace of life.
Anchors and sailor’s knots abound – embroidered, printed or raised – emphasising the fresh, cool appeal of garments that retain an impeccable sense of restraint with their carefully judged detailing.
For instance, the small white contrast features that define the navy blue cotton blazers, worn with that vital Armani classic, the Nehru collar shirt. A cold mineral grey mingles with the blue to deliver an unusual and sophisticated contrast. Nehru jackets come in a choice of fine materials, including techno fabrics and ultra light leather. Striped patterns, predominantly in blue and white, take on a significant role in the knitwear and jersey section, either worn together with or as an alternative to a good selection of jackets, ranging from a version in printed nylon to a safari or a blazer in blue and white techno jersey.Â
Â
An unusual feature of the trousers is the way the belt fastening gathers them in to reduce the width, a hallmark of this season’s styling. Everything is given unaccustomed impact by the ubiquity of a soft white that seems to have been baked by the sun, figuring in micro chalk stripes, monochrome weaves, patterns in tone on tone or incorporating shades of tobacco brown. Summoning up the erotic and seductive magic of Tangier, or the raffish elegance of Havana in the late Forties. Prime example, the ivory Spencer jacket with shawl collar.
Making its debut this season, Armani Collezioni Active draws its inspiration from the world of sport, giving priority to high performance techno fabrics treated with design flair and innovative thinking to satisfy the requirements of those who love sport but are not obsessive about working out in the gym. After the outstanding success of the limited editions introduced last season, another special edition is now ready – a blouson in ultra soft hand woven nappa leather. This is in addition to the even more restricted luxury version created in the lightest, most effervescent wool, graded as Super 200. The height of exclusivity, only one hundred of this model will be available throughout the whole world. Each one will bear an internal label indicating its actual serial number, exactly like an original print signed by the artist.”