Inside Giorgio Armani’s One Night Only NYC: Magnifico

I was there last night as celebrities, socialites and fashion press were joining Giorgio Armani to celebrate and party for One Night Only in New York City. The night unfolded on the Superpier in the Meatpacking District with over 740 guests arriving from around the world and everyone from Naomi Watts, Leonardo Di Caprio, Martin Scorsese, Hilary Swank, Renée Zellweger, and Anna Wintour to Lauren Hutton, Oscar de la Renta, Ricky Martin, Jeremy Irons, and Glenn Close were there to give Mr. Armani a standing ovation and yell “Bravo” after the hour-long Armani Privé runway show.

Let me set-up the night. It took almost two weeks to dress all the celebrities and if you didn’t notice, which I know you did, black was the color of the evening, especially iterations in velvet. The venue encompassed the entire Superpier. We all arrived to be greeted by “One Night Only” in huge white lights, worked our way through a toasty, heated entrance and then on to the “Nude” jam packed Red Carpet which the dynamic Wanda McDaniels had totally under control. From there, we were ushered into the Eccentrico Exhibit.

The exhibit encompasses a selection of pieces from the Giorgio Armani and Giorgio Armani Privé collections featuring 54 sophisticated creations from 1985 to today, the fruit of the designer’s refined elegance and fantastic imagination. It was an entirely new take on the Giorgio Armani world. The exhibition featured more than 300 accessories, including jewelry, shoes, bags and hats, as well as the exclusive Crystal and limited edition Armani Privé fragrances, in homage to the craftsmanship of Haute Parfumerie. Celebrities, dignitaries, fashionistas, and the likes of Anna Wintour and Linda Fargo spent more than an hour examining every detail.

We then made our way down a long wide, “nude” tunnel to the black and white runway venue. I was in the front row! The lights darkened and the  show began. A collection of pieces from all Privé collections from 2005 to the present were shown, collection by collection, on the 87-metre-long catwalk. each one named and visually introduced, often with the color of the runway changing to match the collection. There was a tiny draw back as many of us held our breath. Couture is hard to walk in. Very hard. The models’ inability to walk in many of the dresses had us all secretly rooting for them. At the end, the entire Autumn/Winter Giorgio Armani Privé Nude collection, closed the show.

The scope was so enormous it was equivalent to 20 Paris Couture shows. Actually, it was. The audience was virtually stunned and then erupted into a standing ovation with “Bravo’s” as Mr. Armani took an extended, truly heartfelt bow.

The scope was so enormous it was equivalent to 20 Paris Couture shows. Actually, it was. The audience was virtually stunned and then erupted into a standing ovation with “Bravo’s” as Mr. Armani took an extended, truly heartfelt bow.

After the show, we had a special moment being photographed with Mr. Armani, as did all the celebs who waited their turn in line (!) for a photo op; and, then it was party, party, party with DJ Mark Ronson until the wee hours of the morning in the Dinatoire. That means, cocktails and dining in, what else, but a nude lounge.

I’m still basking in the afterglow of a memorable evening. A special thank you to my wonderful escorts. My handsome hubby and the incredible, elegant Gil Cueto, the head of the Armani Luxury and Fashion Division. He makes everything look so easy.

Bravo Mr. Armani! It was a night to always remember. Pure fashion history.

xo

NJ Goldston, The Brunette

photos courtesy: patrickmcmullan.com and The Blonde & The Brunette