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Giorgio Armani Under The Sea

For his spring/ summer 2014 collection, which showed in Milan on Monday, the designer transported show-goers into an underwater kingdom.

If you like elegance, then you have to love Giorgio Armani -- and the Light and Shadows collection the designer sent down the runway on Monday in Milan was no exception.

Looks ranged from refined silvery-gray feminine suits, with an eclectic mix-and-match of patterns and a variety of tops and bottoms (think check trousers and elegant shorts) to dreamy dresses in light-as-a-feather transparent silks.

The designer played with the idea of water, a theme seen earlier this week in his Emporio Armani show, which was inspired by Water Lilies.

But here a magical garden beneath the sea was the setting. It was a watery kingdom of dreamy, feather-like jacquard silks, appearing like Mermaids between the wave-like patterns and blurry sea creature prints, found both on loose-fitting silhouettes, which flowed away from the body, like a fly-away night gown and tamer pencil-like silhouettes.

The designer worked with “fabrics that transform and play with volume and style: an absolute freedom of shape that is fluid and far removed from the body,” as described in the show notes.

Indeed, looks were ultra light and flowing, like a headscarf turned into a dress. Sometimes, they were surprising: one top, held tight above the chest with an elasticized band, bloomed out into what looked like a pregnancy outfit that could fit a couple of pillows beneath it. This was worn with a narrow skirt.

Armani also worked with the idea of metamorphosis, as could be seen with an ultra-long floral jacket, which seemed to almost morph into a dress, and flat boots that turned into bright cerise and electric blue ankle boots with Plexiglas heels.

The color palate was brightened further by a smattering of bright cerise and electric blue accessories and bright feminine jackets.

Armani, who took a bow in a simple black long-sleeved top, showed what beauty can be created with a simple piece of material wrapped around a body. As well as seascapes, floral prints in equally dreamy shades could be found on suits and printed evening dresses, which were embroidered to double the colorful effect.

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Liza Foreman

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