giorgio armani

Phenomenal Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani Runway Look 88 Black Velvet Bead & Sequin Dress

  • The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 2005 Gorgio Armani collection for the Look 88.
  • It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
  • This is from his main label and its twin was also a part of the ad campaign that year.
  • Armani showed no full length dresses for this collection. The twin of this dress was part of the final leg of the show where he sent down a series of crystal and sequin embellished dresses done in this shorter length for evening.
  • The base fabric of the dress is an inky black velvet which gives the beading and sequins added on top of it a luxurious background.
  • It is suspended from the shoulder by tiny black silk piping for straps and this is also used to finish the edge of the upper bodice.
  • The front neck line is scooped and the back scoops into a wide cut shallow V. I love how this leaves a bare expanse of skin around the upper shoulders.
  • It skims over the bust and is cut generously around the waist for a easy to fit feel.
  • From under the waist it curves out over the hips all the way to the hem. The hem is so interesting because the velvet has been pulled under and attached to the inner lining to create an almost a bubble feel. Where the two fabrics meet there is hidden elastic so that you can walk. You get a better sense of this in the runway photos and video. It is not a true bubble hem but it is a very subtle sleek version of one.
  • Applied onto the dress is an intricate pattern done to suggest a flowers covering the entire dress. Each flower is made from a series of multiple size tube beads that have sequins stacked within the pattern these form. The sequins are set on their sides and stacked tightly together to have a very 3D feel. Scattered between the flowers are little lines of gold and silver tube beads that create a sense of movement over the dress.
  • I have taken close-ups of the extraordinary amount of bead-work that has been done to make these. It is really exquisite hand workmanship.
  • The dress is fully lined in fine black silk crepe and it closes with a hidden side side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
  • Tagged a vintage Armani 42
  • Excellent condition

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5322

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani, Look 88.  /  (5) Erin Wasson for the Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani Ad Campaign photographed by Craig McDean.

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SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.