Armani: provocative outfits are a kind of rape
Italian designer, 85, is criticised for comparing adverts to being assaulted
GIORGIO ARMANI has been accused of diminishing sexual assault after he said women were being “raped” by designers who push them to wear provocative outfits.
Claiming it was “time for me to say what I think”, the 85-year-old, who is known for his sober design style, said “you can rape a woman in many ways” in a rant against sexualisation in the fashion industry.
In comments that were criticised by fashion insiders, Mr Armani said that “throwing [a woman] in the basement” and “suggesting she dresses in a certain way” were both forms of sexual assault.
He complained that women who see adverts showing a model with “her boobs and a--- in plain sight” were being encouraged to dress the same way themselves. “If a lady walks on the street and sees an ad with a woman with her boobs and a--- in plain sight and she wants to be like that too, that’s a way of raping her,” he said.
On Twitter, an executive editor at fashion bible WWD, Booth Moore, wrote: “The exploitation of women in fashion imagery is not a new phenomenon, far from it. And I do think Armani has tried always to be respectful of women in his work. But the word ‘rape’ is very charged in any language.”
Tyler Mccall, editor of fashionista.com in New York, wrote: “I would love to chalk this one up to an age/language/culture barrier but... uh .... ”
Armani, known as the godfather of Italian fashion, contrasted the elegant outfits he designs for women with the more revealing creations of his rivals on the sidelines of a show for his Emporio Armani line at Milan fashion week.
“In my show there are short skirts, long skirts, ample and tight trousers.
“I have given maximum freedom to women who can use all possibilities if they are sensible,” he said.
Armani, who founded his label in 1975, added: “I’m sick of hearing the word ‘trend’,” he added. “We need to try to work for today’s woman. There shouldn’t be trends,” he said.
Accusations of sexism in fashion are nothing new, with a number of reports in the last few years looking into why an industry aimed at women that relies on their money remains so maledominated
‘I would love to chalk this one up to an age/ language/culture barrier, but...’
and, in some cases, patronising to women.
A report in 2018 called “The Glass Ceiling”, put together by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Glamour and Mckinsey & Company, found that every woman interviewed in fashion believed there was an inequality problem in their industry. Less than half of the men did.
Armani said his Emporio Armani show, his younger line, was inspired by “strongwilled” young women.
The show notes read: “The Emporio Armani woman is strong-willed, eclectic and bold in her decisions. With little regard for mundane rules, she is a young woman that bewilders and astonishes.”
Armani will present the Fall/winter 2020 collection for his main Giorgio Armani line tomorrow.