“An enveloping and personal vision that suggests intimacy as an antidote to a moment of theatrical excess,” was, in the house’s words, a summary of its latest collection. Following its usual M.O., Giorgio Armani worked to harmonize décor and simplicity in a language of Autumnal fashions.

Its latest interpretation balanced ease and classic Italian sophistication through a ceremonial lens. Dubbed “Cipria”—Italian for face powder— the collection hinted at intimacy through reflection. Powdering one’s face is, after all, an act of self-love. It would be difficult to imagine a designer interpreting such an abstract and universal concept through a single collection—had it not been Giorgio Armani.

Spinning through a trail of glistening sequins and quivering panels of fringe, the Italian fashion icon proposes we can feel good and have fun with minimalism this season.

With Giorgio Armani’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection, winter’s icy breath blew into spring with frosted iridescent hues, indigo, and a surfeit of plum. Ethereal silhouettes expanded in splendid ridges and folds. Trousers swayed freely as models sported their balloon-ish forms down the runway.

Willowy figures glided past attendees with weeping tulle skirts, imbuing a grace to the runway that transformed it into a realm of fantasy. The occasional flurry of mandalas traced in brilliant sequins reflected light with an awe-inspiring sparkle. Amidst the ever-shifting tones on the sheen of gowns, a single hue prevailed. Gold, a symbol of power and compassion, danced across the collection, exuding a mystique that felt outside this world.

Soft, meditative, and dreamy, Giorgio Armani captured the feeling of fantasy with an exact measure. Not too decorative nor too subdued, its Spring/Summer 2023 collection reminded us that amongst the power suits abounding at Milan Fashion Week, fashion also must inspire us to dream.

This season, Armani decides to dim color and switch on new modes of décor. While rows of buzzing attendees filled the room, the intimacy of the moment felt more like it was set for two. A hue of beige tinged the room with nostalgia and a warm, fuzzy charm.

Shadows emerge in front of a silk screen. Whispering and turning to each other, they begin to glide their way down the runway. As they draw near the light, their restrained opulence and mysterious charm indicate the women of Armani have arrived.

As look one suggests, Armani’s latest minimalist rendition is reflexive, indulgent, and, at times, hedonistic. Invariably, the pleasure lies within the feel of his garments.

Satiny trousers magnetize the scene’s beaming lights as they quiver around the lengthy legs of models. Illuminating and decadent, they are a reminder of the codified elegance that lingers in material—all very telling of Italian craftsmanship.

Black vests subtly frame the shoulders, chest, and mid-riff. As they are layered over beige gowns, a casual yet striking image of the flapper is called forth. Though boyish, their sum nonetheless sensualizes the female form through flowing silhouettes.

The season’s color palette, though significantly pallid when compared to the spring’s mesmerizing pool of blue, offered sensuality with its fleshy hues. An unexpected hue of rose entered the runway. Sometimes matte, others in lustrous silks. Perhaps a nod to the Italian fashion designer’s childhood inspiration in Hollywood films, pink and black became a reoccurring combination throughout the show. Either in black fur layering over a pink gown or in sparkling trousers paired with a velvet jacket, youth, femininity, and solemnity joined forces on the runway.

As the show climaxed, so did allusions to cinematic glamour. Referencing the early 20th century’s affinity for Eastern fashions, Mandarin colors, and fringe surfaced. Shoulders were framed, and waists became concealed as panels of fringe quivered and bounced amongst the runway. It was all very delicate and hinted at sensuality through the filter of a mysterious aura.

Stemming from the peripheral of fashion, Giorgio Armani’s designs continue to find their way into the spotlight. Unconventional in opulence, his definition of luxury exists outside the parameters of scandal. Sharp, understated, and glistening with hints of vibrance, Giorgio Armani’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection progresses its narrative of pure elegance with precision and statement.