Latest news with #Privé
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A Look at Giorgio Armani's New Exhibition Celebrating His 20 Years of Haute Couture
MILAN — Giorgio Armani is opening the golden gates of haute couture to the public by way of a dazzling exhibition staged at the Armani/Silos space here. Inaugurated with an event on Tuesday evening and officially running May 21 to Dec. 28, the showcase is titled 'Giorgio Armani Privé 2005-2025, Twenty Years of Haute Couture' to mark the milestone for the designer's Privé line, which he introduced with a spring 2005 collection paraded in Paris. More from WWD Cannes Film Festival: Hayley Atwell Talks Style, Stunts and Shakespeare How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline Celebrity Fashion Matchmaker Lucio Di Rosa Is Coming to New York Ever since, Armani presented his haute couture collections in the City of Light twice a year, with the only exception being January 2021, when, due to the pandemic, he staged the fashion show behind closed doors at Palazzo Orsini here and then broadcast as part of the Paris couture schedule. So this is the first time the Milanese audience and the general public can get an up-close look at his haute couture creations, indulge in the rich embroideries, beaded embellishments and crafty details and discover the references behind the dreamy garments. Armani himself curated the set-up at the Silos space, which had more than 150 couture looks arranged across four levels, either spotlighted singularly or grouped in thematic rooms, according to colors or inspiration. 'We've heard you've curated the installation yourself until last night,' Armani was told at the opening event. 'Actually, until this morning,' he quickly replied. 'I'm looking at this exhibition again with the critical eye of a person that has designed all these dresses at different times, with different means, different techniques and different skills. So I have a strong critical sense and I won't tell you what doesn't work but what does. And that is to have chosen a path, and most importantly, [ran it] not being led by the hand by anyone,' he said. 'In my haute couture collections, I express my vision of style and elegance through the art of craftsmanship and savoir-faire: only here am I free to do so without limits,' said Armani. 'Twenty years of Giorgio Armani Privé have been an extraordinary, liberating journey. Now, I want to share it with a wider audience, inviting them into this dream of mine, a dream of dresses woven from imagination and grace. A very special world that takes on new meaning in this exhibition.' Visitors will be able to see garments pulled from the designer's couture shows as well as custom made Privé gowns seen on international red carpets through the years. These ranged from the Swarovski crystal mesh gown worn by Cate Blanchett at the 2007 Academy Awards to the spring 2010 strapless, sculptural number Jennifer Lopez picked for the same occasion in 2010; from the long-sleeve, floral-embroidered spring 2021 dress Nicole Kidman sported at the SAG Awards in 2021 to the custom champagne silk gown Demi Moore wore to scoop up her first Golden Globe award earlier this year. Accessories such as bags, shoes, jewelry and headpieces were also showcased, both across the exhibition and in a dedicated section in the space's top level, flanked by an area screening backstage footage of the Armani Privé shows. The exhibit's sensory experience was replete with dim lighting, the Armani Privé high-end fragrance Bois d'Encens lingering in the air and an original soundtrack L'Antidote music trio Redi Hasa, Rami Khalifé and Bijan Chemirani created specifically for the show. The Italian designer, who this year also marks 50 years in business with his namesake brand, has always seen couture as a forum for experimentation in both design and formats. For one, as early as his second couture collection in 2005, he introduced daytime options to the lineup, highlighting a new approach to couture. In January 2007, he also decided to broadcast the spring 2007 couture show live online for the first time from the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. At the time, he addressed that couture 'represents the pinnacle of creativity and sartorial skill, but it is only accessible to the few' and how 'today, through the democracy of the Internet, we can offer a front-row seat to everyone.' Armani paraded his latest couture collection, for spring 2025, in Paris earlier this year, presenting a sophisticated lineup that acknowledged the diverse references the designer has made with his couture designs over time, from the linear elegance of Japan and the shapes and colors of China to the opulence of India, the decorum of North Africa and the landscapes of Polynesia. This was the first collection presented at Palazzo Armani, which was unveiled last year. A historic building dating back to 1864 and located nearby Avenue Montaigne, Palazzo Armani spans over 21,527 square feet to house the couture atelier and several offices, including the designer's workspace and departments such as sales and communications. Originally built as a private residence, the estate changed use in 1912, becoming the headquarters of various companies until Armani took over and restored the stuccoes and period paintings decorating its rooms. As for the Silos space, opposite Armani's theater, it was inaugurated in 2015 with a retrospective of the designer's clothes and has staged several exhibitions, spanning from those dedicated to Larry Fink or Sarah Moon to Tadao Ando's work, to name a few. Best of WWD Model and Hip Hop Fashion Pioneer Kimora Lee Simmons' Runway Career Through the Years [PHOTOS] Salma Hayek's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: A Red Carpet Journey [PHOTOS] How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Inside Lugano Diamonds, Where High Jewelry Has A Higher Purpose
In the vault at Lugano Diamonds' headquarters in Newport Beach, California, CEO Moti Ferder unlocks one of dozens of drawers holding millions of dollars of jewelry to reveal a stunning necklace featuring 168 carats of diamonds cut to resemble snakeskin. 'You need the light to break exactly the same from every direction, creating something that's comfortable to wear, doesn't catch on your hair,' he says. 'All that needs to be planned.' No one custom-ordered this $1.3 million necklace, which Lugano jewelers spent some 400 hours creating. It's one of those pieces that the 55-year-old Ferder refers to as a 'yellow Lamborghini,' meaning it's never the first vehicle a person buys. He knows that finding the right buyer may take years of nurturing, which is why Lugano's approach is low-key, in which 'crafting exceptional experiences' is the secret to success. Ethan Pines for Forbes Those experiences often begin at Privé, Lugano's private club where members (a.k.a. customers) lounge and dine. The elegant 8,500-square-foot Newport Beach club features black walnut floors, ornate ceilings, furniture by Ceccotti Collezioni and Poltrana Frau and paintings by noted contemporary artists, including Barbara Kasten and Jorge Pardo. For the wealthy Orange County families who drop by for a quiet dinner made by Privé's private chef or a bottle of wine from its vast collection, 'it's meant to feel like an extension of your home,' says Lugano president Josh Gaynor, who spent years as the head of high jewelry at Bulgari North America. Lugano's eight 'salons'—in spots such as Aspen, Palm Beach and Houston—feel more like an intimate living room than a jewelry boutique, and are the heart of Ferder's ingenious marketing network. There is also a traveling equestrian show to lure new customers. With revenue up 53% to $471 million in the past year, Lugano is surging thanks in large part to Ferder's unique magic trick of convincing his ultrarich clientele that he's not just in it for the money. The A-Plus List: Unlike jewelry houses that pay millions to celebrity ambassadors, Lugano focuses on a philanthropist clientele—including Georgina Bloomberg and Sheila Johnson—who are interested in giving back. To become a Privé member, it's not enough just to be a well-heeled jewelry buyer; you must also be a generous supporter of charities. 'We believe in philanthropy,' says Ferder, who charges tens of thousands of dollars to belong to Privé, Forbes estimates. 'We believe in community, and we believe that people do business with people they want to do business with.' Over the past three years, Lugano has donated more than $30 million to dozens of nonprofits, including Palm Beach's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Aspen Art Museum. In 2021, Lugano pledged $2.5 million to the Orange County Art Museum to make admission free for ten years. That gift helped boost annual visitors from 20,000 to 250,000 and endeared Lugano to major art collectors including philanthropist Jane Holzer, who was one of Andy Warhol's many muses in the 1960s. Other Lugano members include Sheila Johnson, the billionaire cofounder of BET, who backs the Aspen Institute and Trust for the National Mall; and Georgina Bloomberg (daughter of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg), a professional equestrian. Born in Israel, Ferder grew up immersed in Tel Aviv's diamond business, in which his father dealt in rough diamonds. Following his mandatory Israeli army service, Ferder apprenticed under master cutters while going to school at night for business and gemology. After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, he spent several years sourcing diamonds from Russia and even had a factory there. Though he sold in many countries, his biggest clients were in New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. To survive increasing competition from cutters and wholesalers, he needed to cut out the middlemen, so he decided to immigrate to the United States. By then, Ferder and his wife, Idit, had settled on the Lugano name, inspired by the Swiss lake town renowned for its understated luxury. When the Ferders drove into Newport Beach in 2005, they knew they had found a home for their family and Lugano, which they had founded the previous year. 'It has great schools, little crime, no traffic inside the bubble,' he says. Little wonder: Newport Beach is one of the most expensive Zip codes in the country, with a median home price of nearly $3.5 million. Lugano thrived in Newport, but Ferder knew that if he really wanted to build the business, he needed outside capital. In 2021, he sold 60% of the company to Compass Diversified, a Connecticut-based publicly traded holding company, for $200 million. At the time Lugano was generating $30 million a year of operating income (Ebitda) with an average sale price of $79,000. Since then, Lugano has grown to $192 million in Ebitda with an average sale of $450,000. Some pieces surpass $10 million. If Lugano continues to grow at this pace, it will soon unbalance Compass' balance sheet, and the diversified holding company will look either to spin it off or sell to a luxury giant such as LVMH. Over the past four years, with funding from Compass, Ferder has opened five more salons and expanded Lugano's workforce, with jewelers in L.A., New York and Italy. Three more salons are set to open in 2025, beginning with one in Chicago. Lugano has also grown an inventory of gemstones and finished jewelry worth hundreds of millions so Ferder can meet expected demand growth over the next few years. The posh equestrian world has also proven to be a fertile ground for finding new Lugano clientele. Ferder's family had a horse farm in Israel, and his brother competed internationally in show jumping. Lugano is now among the biggest sponsors of international horse shows, with its brand more prominent in equine arenas than perennial timekeeping sponsor Longines. In tandem with the opening of its London salon in April 2024, Lugano is a new sponsor of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Georgina Bloomberg's equestrian team, New York Empire, is also sponsored by Lugano, and she frequently attends its private dinners, 'mixing us riders with others who might not normally come to a horse show,' says Bloomberg, 42, who supports a pediatric hospital in Ghana. Bloomberg says she doesn't like to wear showy baubles, but she was recently featured bejeweled in a Lugano advertisement wearing a 2.63-carat cushion-cut vivid blue diamond ring with more than three carats of diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. 'They make you feel like it's not just about selling jewelry,' she says.
Asharq Al-Awsat
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Armani Privé Turns 20. The Italian Maestro, 90, Celebrates with Paris Couture and Celebrities
Fashion maestro Giorgio Armani marked 20 years of his haute couture line, Armani Privé, with an elegant and emotionally charged show in Paris's chic 8th arrondissement on Tuesday. At 90 years old, the designer presented a collection diving into the archives of craftsmanship and moving some guests to tears as he took his bow at the end. 'Haute couture is fashion when it becomes art,' Armani said, describing the ethos behind Privé, the line he launched in January 2005. The name itself evokes rarity and exclusivity, serving as a platform for showcasing meticulous craft and timeless design, the house said. This spring 2025 collection revisited iconic elements from Armani Privé's past — with unapologetically glamorous results. A segmented black gown shimmered with silver threads that gleamed like oil, Asian-inspired fitted jackets sparkled with intricate embroidery, and full skirts encrusted with crystals added both texture and weight, swinging heavily and noisily as the models walked. Pearls featured prominently throughout the collection, used as embellishments and symbolic references to serenity, a recurring Armani motif. The show's setting, within the palazzo Armani and beneath gold-gilded ceilings, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the celebration. Guests, including Demi Moore and Jessica Biel, were seen to tap their feet to the booming music. While the collection embraced Armani's signature balance of creativity and restraint, some pieces leaned on familiar themes, reflecting the designer's adherence to his established aesthetic. Yet, this sense of continuity only heightened the timeless quality of the designs, reminding the audience why Privé remains a key part of the haute couture calendar. The emotional highlight of the evening came at the finale when Giorgio Armani himself emerged to take his bow. Slowly walking the runway, the nonagenarian designer received a standing ovation from some in the audience, many of whom were visibly emotional by the moment.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Armani Privé turns 20. The Italian maestro, 90, celebrates with Paris couture and celebrities
PARIS (AP) — Fashion maestro Giorgio Armani marked 20 years of his haute couture line, Armani Privé, with an elegant and emotionally charged show in Paris's chic 8th arrondissement on Tuesday. At 90 years old, the designer presented a collection diving into the archives of craftsmanship and moving some guests to tears as he took his bow at the end. 'Haute couture is fashion when it becomes art,' Armani said, describing the ethos behind Privé, the line he launched in January 2005. The name itself evokes rarity and exclusivity, serving as a platform for showcasing meticulous craft and timeless design, the house said. This spring 2025 collection revisited iconic elements from Armani Privé's past — with unapologetically glamorous results. A segmented black gown shimmered with silver threads that gleamed like oil, Asian-inspired fitted jackets sparkled with intricate embroidery, and full skirts encrusted with crystals added both texture and weight, swinging heavily and noisily as the models walked. Pearls featured prominently throughout the collection, used as embellishments and symbolic references to serenity, a recurring Armani motif. The show's setting, within the palazzo Armani and beneath gold-gilded ceilings, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the celebration. Guests, including Demi Moore and Jessica Biel, were seen to tap their feet to the booming music. While the collection embraced Armani's signature balance of creativity and restraint, some pieces leaned on familiar themes, reflecting the designer's adherence to his established aesthetic. Yet, this sense of continuity only heightened the timeless quality of the designs, reminding the audience why Privé remains a key part of the haute couture calendar. The emotional highlight of the evening came at the finale when Giorgio Armani himself emerged to take his bow. Slowly walking the runway, the nonagenarian designer received a standing ovation from some in the audience, many of whom were visibly emotional by the moment. Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Armani Prive turns 20. The Italian maestro, 90, celebrates with Paris couture and celebrities
PARIS (AP) — Fashion maestro Giorgio Armani marked 20 years of his haute couture line, Armani Privé, with an elegant and emotionally charged show in Paris's chic 8th arrondissement on Tuesday. At 90 years old, the designer presented a collection diving into the archives of craftsmanship and moving some guests to tears as he took his bow at the end. 'Haute couture is fashion when it becomes art,' Armani said, describing the ethos behind Privé, the line he launched in January 2005. The name itself evokes rarity and exclusivity, serving as a platform for showcasing meticulous craft and timeless design, the house said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. This spring 2025 collection revisited iconic elements from Armani Privé's past — with unapologetically glamorous results. A segmented black gown shimmered with silver threads that gleamed like oil, Asian-inspired fitted jackets sparkled with intricate embroidery, and full skirts encrusted with crystals added both texture and weight, swinging heavily and noisily as the models walked. Pearls featured prominently throughout the collection, used as embellishments and symbolic references to serenity, a recurring Armani motif. The show's setting, within the palazzo Armani and beneath gold-gilded ceilings, provided an intimate yet majestic backdrop for the celebration. Guests, including Demi Moore and Jessica Biel, were seen to tap their feet to the booming music. While the collection embraced Armani's signature balance of creativity and restraint, some pieces leaned on familiar themes, reflecting the designer's adherence to his established aesthetic. Yet, this sense of continuity only heightened the timeless quality of the designs, reminding the audience why Privé remains a key part of the haute couture calendar. The emotional highlight of the evening came at the finale when Giorgio Armani himself emerged to take his bow. Slowly walking the runway, the nonagenarian designer received a standing ovation from some in the audience, many of whom were visibly emotional by the moment.
