Giorgio Armani to stage star-studded couture show during Venice Film Festival – The Hollywood Reporter

A highlight of the first weekend of the 80th Venice International Film Festival was the appearance of Giorgio Armani on the catwalk, visibly excited, moved, smiling and proudly satisfied with his work. He then stepped out gracefully and happily in his immaculate blue tuxedo hand in hand with model Agnese Zogla.

The moment was shared by more than 500 guests at Armani’s One Night Only event, where the world of cinema flocked to pay homage to King Giorgio. Guests also included Sophia Loren, who has always been his beloved friend, accompanied by her son Edoardo Ponti, actor Benicio Del Toro, actress Jessica Chastain and directors Ang Lee, Gabriele Salvatores and Giuseppe Tornatore.

The standing ovation lasted several minutes and came from an audience made up of numerous couples from the Italian film star system: from Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini and Pierfrancesco Favino and Anna Ferzetti to Raul Bova and Rocio Munoz Morales to Kasia Smutniak and Domenico Procacci. Other stars and directors featured in the crowd included Kerry Washington, Lucas Bravo, Lukas Gage, Sydney Sweeney, Sadie Sink, Louis Garrel, Regé-Jean Page, Shu Qi, Ava DuVernay, Luca Guadagnino and Ferzan Ozpetek. The evening proved that when fashion and cinema come together in the city of the festival, they can create an evening of wonder, if only for one night, as the sign at the entrance said “Guests from all over the world welcome.”

65 models walked the runway at the Arsenale, the restored old complex of shipyards and workshops near the Venice Biennale venues. In the atmospheric setting of the Tese delle Nappe venue, 89-year-old Giorgio Armani presented a Harlequin-themed reinterpretation of Armani Privé’s last Paris runway show. Also on the catwalk were some precious Venice-inspired dresses, a tribute to the lagoon city that the Piacenza-based designer loved so much. Under the historical columns and arches, long evening dresses of different shades walked the catwalk, from blue, green and turquoise to black, covered with crystals or with ruffles with geometric motifs that recalled the most famous mask in the world in a breathtaking display unique craftsmanship.

As singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini, one of the guests for the night, told THR, “The moment of the night was watching Mr. Armani himself make his rounds down the runway and being showered with praise and respect – goosebumps.” stunning.”

So far, Armani’s One Night Only event had reached seven major cities: London in 2006, Tokyo in 2007, Beijing in 2012, Rome and New York in 2013, Paris in 2014 and Dubai in 2021 this year Venice turn. What better time than the Venice Film Festival where Armani Beauty is one of the main sponsors. And who could be more fitting than Armani, whose passion was born at a young age and who then cultivated and meticulously consolidated over time, dressing celebrities on the world’s most prestigious red carpets and designing costumes for, among other things, films that have become iconic are? American gigolo. And who else can boast of a documentary dedicated to him? Manufactured in Milanby Martin Scorsese, which premiered at the Fest in 1990?

Venice also wanted to honor him the day before the show by presenting him with the Murano Glass Golden Lion from the hands of the city’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, who said: “I wanted to honor the man, his commitment and his great passion for beauty .” which he was able to turn into a successful company, the symbol of Made in Italy in the world.”

“I was very touched by the gesture of the city. The statue wasn’t made of gold, but I was still quite satisfied,” Armani joked in a touching pre-show speech in Italian. “Even on my first visit, I was overwhelmed by Venice and all its colors. It’s a dreamy paradise… with a decadent vibe. Yet it conveys a certain sense of unique elegance,” said the designer, who celebrated the occasion on September 1 with a super party on a yacht moored in Riva San Biasio.