Giorgio Armani to stage One Night Only in Venice

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
May 19, 2023

Giorgio Armani will stage his latest One Night Only event in September in Venice amidst the celebrations for the lagoon city’s annual film festival.

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“On the occasion of the Mostra de Venice, I will celebrate a great moment, at the crossroads of fashion and cinema. These two worlds have been for a very long time the veritable passions of my life as a designer,” Armani told FashionNetwork.com.
 
The designer plans to stage both an Armani Privé couture show and major party inside the Arsenal on Saturday, September 2, timed during the opening weekend of the film festival, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

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Armani debuted the One Night Only concept back in 2006 in London, with a multi-collection show inside Earl’s Court and epic performances by Beyoncé and 50 Cent. Since then, he has staged One Night Only in Tokyo in 2007; Beijing in 2012; Rome and New York in 2013; Paris in 2014, and Dubai in 2021. His latest One Night Only in Dubai marked the 10th anniversary of Giorgio’s first hotel, located in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
 
“This event will represent my homage to the union between creativity and cinema with a spectacular fashion show followed by a soirée,” Armani added.
 
Armani has long been a key reference point linking cinema and style, ever since he provided the costumes for American Gigolo in 1980, dressing Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton. Giorgio has also shown remarkable range in his ability to dress many types of film genres – from dressing James Bond in Casino Royale in 2006, to his vintage inspired looks for The Untouchables, set in Chicago in the 1930s. That era has often been a reference point for the Italian designer with its blend of classical tailoring and stylistic understatement.
 
Armani’s celebratory runway display in April 2015 at the opening of his striking museum space Armani Silos in Milan almost certainly attracted the greatest number of mega movie stars ever to attend a single runway show. Guests included Cate Blanchett, Sophia Loren, Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Tina Turner, Charlotte Rampling, Pierce Brosnan, Glenn Close, Priyanka Chopra and Ornella Muti.  So, expect major star power in Venice for the 88-year-old designer.
 
Armani and the festival began their love affair back in Venice in 1990, with the premiere of a documentary on the designer directed by Scorsese and entitled Made in Milan, when Giorgio hosted a party to honor the American film director in Ca’ Leone on the Giudecca.
 
“At this stage in my career, it is particularly important to me to be surrounded by my great friends and muses from this universe,” Armani stressed about September’s soirée.
 
The designer continues to be the main sponsor of the festival through Armani Beauty.
 
The 80th Venice International Film Festival will take place on Venice Lido from August 30 to September 9.