Armani Prive Couture AW13

An all-nude collection is a tricky proposition. In the wrong hands, this delicate and ambiguously named shade can fall into the wrong side of tawdry, as it blends dangerously with real flesh. At the latest Armani Privé show, Giorgio Armani gave a masterclass of nude, not by revealing banks of flesh but by judging levels of transparency and using the correct tones to create an ethereally united collection. Armani has done his fair share of empowering women through the years with strong tailoring to often augment a high-flying career. Armani took a surprisingly delicate detour with this Privé show as he had the sole intention of showcasing true beauty. The audience murmuring “Bella!” as languid daywear of sparkle-dusted trouser suits and sleek tailoring segued into a glorious passage of eveningwear weren’t wrong. The sensitivity that Armani lavished on each dress was fully evident.

The “Softly does it” approach was a winning one. Gowns constructed with the thinnest of spaghetti straps, trails of floor-length tulle and lace whispering as they moved past you and sheer transparencies that were subtly seductive – the collection may have gone down the runway with a gentle ease but it left a memorable impression in our minds, and that’s really what matters.