Lunch with Armani

As I was flipping through some fashion magazines the other day ( a terrible habit of mine which I justify as work research!) I was reminded of how fashion is cyclical. Noticing all these pastel, especially blush colored dresses and minimalist separates I was reminded of a photo shoot I did back in my modelling days for Donna magazine in Milan. Wearing Armani, the title of the story was “ Chic al Gelato” or  Sorbet Chic. So I dug it up out of my archives, and there it was, blush colored Armani jacket and skirt. Even the hair and makeup was reminiscent of today’s fashionably bobbed hair and bold eyebrows! Of course it looks dated and today blush outfits would be better paired with a softer makeup look especially around the eyes, but still…

I worked quite often for Armani while in Milan and I spent one particularly charming afternoon in his country home. We were there to photograph his home for a Decor magazine and myself and a male model were dressed in Armani to be photographed in different areas of the home. To my delight and dismay we were invited for lunch on the terrace with Armani himself! As I was going to change back into my own clothes, one of his assistants came to me and requested I remain dressed in Armani! I don’t recall exactly what I was wearing but the top was white, so I was a little nervous not to spill anything. We were seated at a long table with Armani at the head of one end and …me directly across from him at the other! White gloved waiters arrived with the first course (primi piatti) of spaghetti pomodoro ( with tomato sauce, in Italy pasta is eaten as a first course before the meat).

Terrified to commit a faux pas and drop red sauce on my Armani blouse,I decided to cut my spaghetti…to the great dismay of the assistant seated to my right who exclaimed “ in Italy we DO NOT cut our spaghetti!!” So trying to be as chic and worldly as I could I twirled it around my fork as the others did but I didn’t end up eating much of it! ( hoping the next course would prove easier to eat!) It was and the lunch was thoroughly enjoyable as was chatting with Mr Armani himself!

It was a wonderful experience that I haven’t forgotten and Armani truly is a very elegant and impeccably dressed man who’s talent has stood the test of time with his exquisite designs.

Translation & Editing by Camille Boucard