Italian Fashion Watch

Victoria Beckham

Following he husband, David, Victoria Beckham will herself appear in her own Armani lingerie ads.

The fashion house will be releasing a new lingerie line soon and the ex-Spice Girl will promote it in a series of photo ads, just like the ones that made a big buzz when David Beckham appeared half naked on walls all over the owrld.

Giorgio Armani himself described Victoria Beckham as a „fashion icon”, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the campaign. It was only natural for her to appear in his 2009 Emporio Armani women’s underwear line.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren has been named as the most powerful person in men’s fashion and retail, for the second year running.

Giorgio Armani also landed the number two spot on DNR.COM’s rankings of the 100 most powerful people in men’s fashion and retail.

Both men undoubtedly have a lifetimes experience in the business and this is reflected in this years rankings.

After their 40th anniversary celebrations in 2007, Polo Ralph Lauren’s sponsorship of the US Olympic team in Beijing has proven a wise move, as this is primarily credited with keeping him at the top of the list.

Meanwhile, Armani’s empire continues to grow and flourish, having already launched his first men’s skin care line, Skin Minerals for Men this year. He’s also opened two stores in India and two Emporio Armani flagships in Moscow and Beijing.

In a recent interview with Il Sole, Giorgio Armani mentioned that he has not yet decided on a successor at the head of his massive fashion empire. The 74 years old Italian designer says that he’s still in top shape to run the business and he is not planning on retiring any time soon.

The reasons for not retiring may go well beyond his great condition. A departure from the head of the fashion firm could impact negatively on its sales and the reputation of the brand itself. I will happen some day because the new generation will eventually have to take over the old, but for now Armani is still in charge.

Here’s what he had to say about it:

“The founder is linked to the brand and represents its style. When it comes to replacing the founder there is always a doubt as to whether to change the style. The young designers have all the talent that is needed, but in a system made up of only ‘untouchable icons’ that cut off all oxygen, you can also die.”

Giorgio Armani has just announced that leading Asian actor Takeshi Kaneshiro will be the first Asian male face to appear in an advertising campaign for Emporio Armani in the Fall 2008 men’s collection. A well recognised face throughout Asia, Takeshi’s signing as the new testimonial for Emporio Armani corresponds with the brand’s growing development in the China market, which will celebrate the opening of 13 new Emporio Armani stores around the country within 2008.

Takeshi joins David Beckham who is the official testimonial for Emporio Armani Underwear and KaKa, the testimonial for Emporio Armani Menswear in Europe and the Americas. Takeshi will appear in a special advertising campaign for the Emporio Armani Fall 2008, which will be rolled out in Hongkong, China and Taiwan in leading fashion and lifestyle magazines and on signature billboards.

The union between Giorgio Armani and the film industry is well documented. It all started with the wardrobe he created for Richard Gere in American Gigolo in 1980. Over the years Giorgio Armani has continued to show his passion for motion picture. Giorgio Armani began his support of Asian cinema in 2006 with the costume design for a Chinese language motion picture Confession of Pain, starring Takeshi.

Takeshi has appeared in over 30 films including many landmarks of Asian cinema, among them Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express in 1994. Of Chinese and Japanese descent, Takeshi’s filmography is not limited to Chinese language productions including House of Flying Daggers, Perhaps Love in 2006, The Warlords in 2007 and this year’s Red Cliff but also Japanese films including Returner in 2002.

Giorgio Armani said, “I am excited to collaborate with Takeshi on this new advertising campaign. He is a film and style icon in Asia where his fame transcends cultures both East and West. His sense of effortless style is very contemporary and sophisticated and together with his good look makes him the ideal testimonial for Emporio Armani.”

Emporio Armani is expanding towards east and takes over the European far east with a new stylish store in the heart of Russia. And, just in case you need some rest in your shopping spree, the store also has a very coquet restaurant where you can relax with a nice cup of coffee.

Regarding the city, Giorgion Armani said that Moscow is an energetic and beautiful city with its mixture of ‘East meets West’, ‘Tradition with Modernity’ and ‘Antiquity with Futurism’

“I have been waiting patiently to find an appropriate location for my first Emporio Armani store in Moscow. So I am excited that it is becoming a reality. This city is not only the capital, but one of the most important business, social and international hubs in Europe with a quickly rising reputation for being style conscious”

Giorgio Armani announced that the new promoter for his line of jeans will be singer and songwriter Solange Knowles, who will launch her new album on August 26^th. She will tour Europe in the new outfit and her shows will take place, among others, in London and Cannes.

In regards with his choice, Armani says that “Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool, fashion sensibility. Solange epitomizes this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her new single, ‘I Decided’.”

The collection caters to both men and women and is targeted at the urbanites. The collection is blended in rich colours embraced by mother of pearls.

The men’s collection is inspired by futuristic design and technological themes. The watch designs are a blend of classic styling and a sporty, casual look. The watches have oversized stainless steel cases, coin-ridged bezel, embossed black leather straps resembling crocodile skin and black enamel top-ring with minute markers.

The collection also has rose coloured gold watch featuring the simple rose gold hour markers to create a strikingly rich and sophisticated contrast against a black dial. It is also available with silver dial, featuring two black chronograph counters and a red coloured seconds’ hand.

Entire men’s collection for watches is coated with black ion plating and is topped with a silver coloured world time zone bezel which is a representative of the world’s 24 different time zones.

The women’s collection explore the classical designs. The watch in the this collection has an elongated rectangular case made of yellow gold plated stainless steel on a three-link bracelet with a white mother-of-pearl dial, a sub-second counter and Roman numeral indexes.

The watches are made up of multiple chronograph counters, pearl coloured leather straps and removable crystal. The large stainless steel cases have four concentric rows of clear Swarovski crystals set against black rubber straps and embossed with the Emporio Armani logo.
Also available in this collection is the Meccanico range which is made up of detailed dials layered with black mother of pearls.

These watches are priced in a range beginning from Rs9495 to Rs35,495 and is available at select Lifestyle stores and premium watch retail stores.

The latest Armani Ambassador, big screen star Josh Hartnett, will be the face of the new Emporio Armani Diamonds for Men advertising campaign. Giorgio Armani set out to find someone who would reflect the bold allure of sexiness that would embody this new fragrance. The designer considers Hartnett to be one of the most talented actors of his generation. Josh Hartnett was the first male celebrity selected because of his on screen charisma, elegance and sensuality.

Passionate about film from a very early age, Hartnett has starred in a number of major Hollywood productions, such as “Pearl Harbor,” “Black Hawk Down,” “The Black Dahlia,” “30 Days of Night,” and “August” releasing next month. In the dramatic film, Josh Hartnett stars as internet start-up entrepreneur who attempts to keep his fledgling company afloat in August 2001 as the dot.com bubble bursts.

In front of the camera, Josh is the center of every angle in the advertising campaign. In both the print and TV ads, Josh is confident and playfully seductive as it looks like he is being photographed by paparazzi.

Monday, July 21st is Josh Hartnett’s 30th birthday and Giorgio Armani personally sent his well wishes with a one-of-a-kind Emporio Armani bike and letter at a recent luncheon hosted by Giorgio Armani Beauty at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City.

Paris once again became the epicentre of the fashion universe this week as the haute couture shows got underway. Oscar winner Helen Mirren, actress Eva Mendes and Janet Jackson were just some of the big names checking out the glorious creations destined for the wardrobes of an elite handful of extremely wealthy women. And they had chosen a good moment to go along, as this is shaping up to be the busiest haute couture week or several seasons.

An unusually high total of 23 designers are scheduled to take part, including the first Chinese courier to show in Paris.

Firmly in the spotlight on day one, however, was Giorgio Armani, who presented a collection which celebrates his 35 years in the industry.

A-list guests, including the youngest daughter of the Thai crown prince, Princess Siriwannawari Nariratana, watched as the Italian maestro presented a collection which revisited many of his signature silhouettes. The classic trouser suit, for instance, made a return, with elements incorporated into cocktail and eveningwear.

One standout piece reflected by the mirrored runway was of a pair of high-waisted black velvet tuxedo trousers teamed with a fitted cape affair made of strings of pearls. A daringly cut cocktail dress, slashed from bodice to hip, was another highlight.

Across town John Galliano unveiled a fresh collection for Dior. The range, which he describes as “couture in a contemporary way”, featured strong, elegant shapes which placed emphasis firmly on aesthetics.

Giorgio Armani and Samsung finally completed their collaboration with the release of the new “Giorgio Armani Samsung Phone”, or the SGH-P520.

Being seen the first time last November, it was finally released officially this week.

As a fashion phone, it does not have extraordinary technical features. True, it does have a 3 Mega pixel camera and a fantastic frontal touch screen with vibration feedback that lets you know that you’ve pressed the right button.

The casing is made out of metal, with just the right weight, giving the phone a solid feel and also a reassurance that it won’t break when it accidentally fells on the ground.

The pictures taken with the camera look good on the phone, but a little blurry when on a larger screen. It also has no 3G.

Being designed in collaboration with a highly reputed fashion brand, the phone itself looks fantastic. Much better than what we’ve seen coming from the other fashion firms.

For more information, take a look at http://www.armanisamsungphone.com/