It feels like perfect timing that Armani’s 40th anniversary fell on precisely the same day as the opening of the highly anticipated 2015 Milan Expo. To mark the occasion—and greet the millions of well-heeled visitors in town for the festivities—Giorgio Armani opened a striking museum space on Milan’s Via Bergognone. The straightforward structure, named Armani/Silos for the building’s origins as a 1950s Nestle granary, is yet another testament to the legendary designer’s practiced minimalism. With a faceted concrete façade accented with a ribbon of windows toward the top, the structure sits quietly yet confidently behind a row of towering trees.
Inside, the four-story basilica-inspired layout is equally stark. With black ceilings, gray concrete floors, and ample natural light, the subdued design lets the museum’s first feature exhibition take center stage. Showcasing Giorgio Armani fashion from the past 40 years, the museum is filled with 600 garments and 200 accessories that include subtly chic daywear, stunning gowns, and so many examples of exemplary suiting.
Through October 31 at Armani/Silos, via Bergognone, 40, Milan; armanisiloom
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