IN THE BLACK: Giorgio Armani conjured a starry crowd at his fall 2024 show, with guests including Cate Blanchett; Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson; actors Louis Garrel and Ji Chang Wook; artist Olympia Scarry, and the Italian singer and composer Alexia.
Actor and screenwriter Aaron Taylor-Johnson attended as the new global ambassador for the Armani fragrance Acqua di Giò, but was happy to hand the floor to his wife Sam, who directed “Back to Black,” the Amy Winehouse biopic set for release in April.
“I have my final, final day with it on Tuesday — and then it goes to the world,” said an ebullient Sam Taylor-Johnson before the show.
“I’m so happy, proud and excited — it’s been incredible. Honestly, you can read my face. I’m beaming because I am so excited about it. I feel like my film gives Amy her agency back, and that’s what I set out to achieve. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Blanchett, global ambassador for Armani Beauty and a regular on the designer’s front row, breezed into the cobbled courtyard of the designer’s palazzo wearing a bottle green velvet suit with a deep V neckline.
She confirmed that she’s working with Michael Fassbender on a “spy thriller” directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film is called “Black Bag,” and is her second project with Soderbergh following the 2006 movie “The Good German.”
There was another star in the mix, too, although she wasn’t in the front row. Armani opened the show with model Gina Di Bernardo, the face of his ’80s and ’90s advertising campaigns shot by Aldo Fallai.
“I wanted to open the show with Gina for old time’s sake, and because I feel such affection for her,” Armani said. “She has such a beautiful face, and those Fallai photos of her captured a special moment in time for me. She is also someone who has always truly understood my designs.”
Fallai has worked with the designer since the mid-1970s, before Armani even set up his own namesake fashion group. Armani is currently shining a light on him with the exhibition “Aldo Fallai for Giorgio Armani, 1977-2021” at his Silos space, which runs until Aug. 11.