Armani rock chic: Emperor of good taste loosens up with vibrant homage to Bowie

 

Young Americans: skinny tailoring and bright pink sequin-covered trilby with leather gloves

Giorgio Armani and David Bowie aren't two names that necessarily trip off the tongue together.
Yet it was the spirit of Ziggy Stardust that was evoked at the Armani Prive couture show in Paris.
Appropriately, perhaps, for a tribute to the Thin White Duke, there was a surfeit of thin white models, their ghostly skin only emphasised by the bright spotlights overhead.
The show started soberly enough, with a series of tiny checked jackets with cinched waists, some livened up by thick metallic leather belts.
The jackets were worn with kneelength pencil skirts, some in black velvet with satin panels.
To add to the "rock chick" vibe, some of the models wore dark glasses studded with diamante.
Then came the colour most unexpected at Armani, a designer more synonymous with beige and navy than the punky hues of fluorescent pink and yellow.
Evidently news of London's pioneering nurave trend has reached Milan, for Armani didn't shy away from using both vibrant colours in his collection.
A fluorescent pink biker jacket in shiny alligator was followed by its twin in fluorescent yellow, both teamed with sober black skirts and matching fluorescent stilettos.
A black frock coat came with a fluorescent pink lining, and a trilby worn at a jaunty angle came embellished with bright pink sequins.
Eveningwear was particularly vibrant. Even when a plain black velvet column dress appeared, it was enlivened by a multicoloured feather boa or a bright fur stole.

Diamond togs: bejewelled fabrics and vibrant colours enlivened eveningwear

Highlights included a black jet beaded column dress with a racer back and exaggerated pannier hips, and a floor length pink satin column dress with an oversized sculptural bow trailing down its back.

Hero:

The effect was one of a fancily wrapped Christmas present - and for Armani's legion of celebrity fans, this extra colourful collection is sure to make them feel as though all their Christmases have come at once.
It was refreshing to see the emperor of good taste loosen up a little and have fun with colour. That Armani tends to ignore current trends is both his strength and his weakness.
He has always danced to his own tune: that he danced to 's last night made a welcome change of pace.
Front row at the show was guest of honour Cate Blanchett, in a Forties-style black knee-length cocktail dress with jet beading at the neckline. She was joined by French actresses Virginie Ledoyen, Camilla Belle and Melanie Thierry.