Staged in Teatro Armani, SS24 saw Emporio Armani return to tradition. House codes of understated sophistication and endearing elegance stood at the fore as Giorgio Armani showed us what the Italian house does best. Silhouettes were cut in liquid lines as wide-leg trousers billowed, duster coats swept at the ankles, tuxedo jumpsuits were angled at the shoulders, and double-breasted waistcoats added a touch of Italian tradition. A refined colour palette of black, white and sand allowed craft to shine, deployed in monochrome looks or seamlessly intertwined with one another.

Fusing global codes, the house looked to the tradition of Asian dress for inspiration. Backdropped by a giant golden ginkgo plant, the flower became a recurring motif throughout as petals sat atop the lapels of impeccably cut blazers, loose-fitting lattice-cut jumpers and Mandarin collars. A touch of the technical arrived in the form of sheer anorak style outerwear and parachute pants, contrasted by the elegance of silk suiting in hues of buttery cream.

Closed by a host of Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the finale revealed a capsule version of the national kit set to be worn next summer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris: honouring the brand’s ties to the global sporting event, having presented its first-ever collection one year before the 21st edition of the games in 1976.