If you’re wondering who the Amiri man is, look no further than Jeff Goldblum at the Golden Globes. His aqua blazer with crystal stripes had it all: Hollywood glitz with old-school swagger.
Mike Amiri’s fall show coasted on that carefree mood, pre-wildfires, with a lush set styled like a speakeasy, with cognac-colored walls and round tables dotted with lamps running down the middle (pre-show refreshments included espresso martinis).
“I love people to really feel things on the runway, and I thought it’d be great to make it a bit more immersive, and really give you that feeling of Hollywood, late ‘60s, early ‘70s, and bits of that glamour and bits of that moonlight also,” the designer said backstage.
Leather, satin and velvet in rich fall hues set the tone for the glitzy collection, punctuated with sparkly knits and crooner suits dusted with delicate crystal embroideries.
You May Also Like
Belted leather jackets and coats, velvet flares and knit shirts pushed the lineup into ‘70s territory, as did the eyewear, which channeled a hint of Tom Ford.
For the first time, Amiri showcased his women’s collection on the runway alongside the menswear: think a glittering gold evening gown paired with a weathered croc-print leather blazer, or a silver lamé pinstripe suit with a silk camisole top.
With Los Angeles still battling devastating fires that have killed at least 27 people, Amiri was conscious of the disconnect between his fantasy vision of Tinseltown and the bleak reality.
“It’s so strange getting alerts on my phone and being backstage here,” he said, as he monitored reports of new blazes on Thursday.
That made his love letter to his hometown all the more poignant. Amiri pointed out the jacquard fabrics with Oriental motifs, noting they were inspired by classic L.A. haunts like the Formosa Café and Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
“It’s kind of giving people these secret Easter eggs from a California, Hollywood, local that you sneak in there, and it could be part of their journey,” he explained.
“I mean, who wouldn’t want to be part of that era with all these crooners and this ideal American Hollywood vision that is timeless in its own way, but can only happen at one time? And the best we can do is modernize it,” he said.
