Margot Robbie’s risque red-carpet tribute to Armani

2 days ago 4

As far as tributes go, the risque Giorgio Armani dress worn by Margot Robbie to a London movie premiere trumps an eloquent eulogy or lace-trimmed bereavement card.

Days after the Italian designer’s death at the age of 91, Robbie selected a see-through gown from the Armani Prive spring 2025 collection, embellished with floral and paisley motifs in crystals and gems, to wear alongside actor Colin Farrell for the premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

While the scant tapestry design was minimal at the front, there was even less at the back, with the spaghetti straps criss-crossing before descending dangerously low, with a matching thong offering a claim to modesty.

Margot Robbie in Armani Prive for the London premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

The Armani Gown featured a paisley and floral pattern and was worn with shoes from Aquazzura.

It was shocking, unconventional and beautiful, all words fittingly used to describe Giorgio Armani at various times of his long career.

This, however, was a different type of shock than Armani experienced in his lifetime. In the ’80s, Armani surprised the fashion industry with designs that were minimalist in detail rather than fabric.

Armani’s aesthetic was seen as ladylike compared with the exuberant designs of his rival Gianni Versace. Vogue boss Anna Wintour once reportedly said: “Armani dresses the wife, Versace dresses the mistress.”

It appears it was unwise to pigeonhole Armani’s talent.

The gown worn by Robbie rivals for impact the safety-pin Versace dress that propelled Elizabeth Hurley to enduring fame at the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral. So far, the response to the Armani gown has been more favourable from the fashion press than to the wedding dress worn by Robbie’s character in the coming Wuthering Heights adaptation alongside Jacob Elordi.

Robbie, who welcomed a son with her husband Tom Ackerley in October 2024, has a long-standing relationship with Armani, which has existed alongside her professional relationship with Chanel. At the 2023 Academy Awards she surprised fans by taking a break from wearing Chanel, instead selecting a fitted black sequinned strapless column Armani Prive gown.

Margot Robbie on the red carpet of the Golden Globes 2024 in Armani Prive.

She also wore an old-Hollywood-inspired pink and black velvet strapless Armani Prive for the 2024 BAFTA Awards, and a hot-pink sequinned Armani Prive gown inspired by the 1977 Superstar Barbie for the 2024 Golden Globes.

Robbie’s stylist Andrew Mukamal worked with her on these looks as well as the campy press tour for the smash hit Barbie. For the London premiere Mukamal matched shoes from Aquazzura with the gown.

Armani launched the Prive collection in 2005, finally entering the rarefied world of haute couture and showing his clothes on the Paris runway.

“Haute couture allows me to step into a realm of captivating fantasy and experimentation,” Armani said earlier this year at the 20th anniversary of the label. “It is both a dream and a service. It’s not about creating clothes for beautiful photos or memorable editorials but designing for a real clientele.”

In London Robbie delivered the dream and a service, in reminding us of Armani’s talent.

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