Coronavirus Fears Creates an Eerie, and Lonely Display For Designers At Milan Fashion Week
One big thrill of fashion month—for both showgoers and audiences watching from home—is the spectacle of a runway show. Watching models strut down the catwalk is like watching your favorite musician perform. Models, designers and audience members feed off of each other’s energies making for an unforgettable event. But what happens when there is no audience? The show must still go on, but it leaves an eerie ambiance in the atmosphere.
Giorgio Armani decided to stage his Autumn Winter 2020 show behind closed doors due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in Italy. “This is a preventative measure decided by Mr. Armani to support national efforts in safeguarding public health,” the company tweeted the morning of the February 23 show.
Italy has seen a huge breakout of the disease—totaling over 200 cases according to CNN—and the Armani show was not the only public event that had to make changes to its schedule. There have been bans on public events throughout the country in order to stop the spread of the disease. Luckily, Armani was able to broadcast the runway show from within a theater to thousands of views online.
Guests arriving at the Dolce & Gabbana show wearing sanitary face masks via Telegraph UK
Fashion month events around the globe are seeing issues arise with the spread of coronavirus. In early February, Madame Lu and the Shanghai Fashion Week Organizing Committee decided it was best to postpone the event. According to Jing Daily, a number of fashion events, like Chanel’s Beijing show planned for May, have already been cancelled.
Models during Giorgio Armani's Autumn/Winter 2020 show at Milan Fashion Week (left), and the designer arriving to his show wearing a mask (right). via Insider
A model showcases a look during Armani's Autumn/Winter 2020 show at Milan Fashion Week. via Insider
It was a very Armani show with velvet pieces and stunning silhouettes. And the outerwear (velvet blazers, fuzzy topcoats and posh capes) is definitely something we want to see in our closets. Models walked against an all black runway, which made the show look even lonelier. The lack of a set made viewers pay more attention to the collection and less on the empty front row. Although, Mr. Armani did make efforts to keep the show as traditional as possible—he came out to the runway to salute his online audience at his show’s culmination.
cover image via The Florida Post