Giorgio Armani / Fall 2012 RTW

Three cities down, two trends emerged. Okay, there are probably at least half a dozen more, but because two particular ones played roles in Giorgio Armani’s fall collection, let’s go with them.

Number one: pants. There have been some beautiful dresses in New York and Milan, but when it comes to what to wear for day, it’s about a straight, cropped pant worn with a fitted jacket. Armani took a masculine approach to the idea and cut lean trousers from traditional menswear fabrics like Prince of Wales check and paired them with tops ranging from dandyish, double-breasted blazers to vibrant pink and tangerine shells in organza.

Number two: flats. Again, there was a distinct portrait of a lady that emerged in Milan, but what differentiated this season’s polish from how it’s been done in the past is that, more often than not, it was grounded by statement flats. After years of ankle-breakers, this is not only a welcome change of pace but also modernizes this vision of the fairer sex. Women today are far too overbooked and harried (for better or worse, it’s the truth) to teeter around feeling like they have to be in heels to be in style. Walking on more solid ground allows them to move quickly and purposefully through their day. Armani’s dark, pointed-toe variations on oxfords and brogues with neon uppers fell right in step. But he’s always been interested in empowering women through his designs, so the fact that he showed strong flats exclusively perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Photos: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW
Source: www.vogue.com