A crowd of fans and passersby gathered outside the glass facade of Giorgio Armani’s Rodeo Drive flagship Saturday evening, pausing along the sidewalk to peer through the windows as the brand hosted its annual private cocktail marking the height of awards season.
Inside, the energy was charged.
“In my sweats, with popcorn and some sushi,” smiled Janelle James when asked about her Oscar plans, as the boutique quickly filled.
Under the store’s fluorescent lights, servers circulated with trays of Champagne while guests moved between displays and racks of eveningwear, and photographers huddled near the entrance capturing arrivals.
The gathering brought together actors, musicians and Armani’s VICs ahead of Sunday’s ceremony. Guests included Hudson Williams, Paul Anthony Kelly, Jon Hamm, Samuel L. Jackson, Yara Shahidi, Édgar Ramírez, Maika Monroe, Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song, Chase Stokes, Jurnee Smollett and Eric Nam. Many wore head-to-toe Armani.
James leaned into the house’s signature minimalism with a sleek black gown that revealed subtle translucent detailing up close.
“It seems like a basic black dress, but it’s actually sheer,” said the “Abbott Elementary” actress. “Sexy, but not too on the nose. That’s what Armani gives, classy, sexy, sleek.”
Smollett also chose a little black dress — drawn in part to its low-cut bodice.
“My favorite part is the neckline,” she laughed. “It’s very flirtatious.”
The actress recalled meeting Giorgio Armani several years ago at a fashion show in Dubai.
“He had such a flair for sophistication, and it still feels very timeless,” Smollett said. “The gowns always feel like they could have been worn by Katharine Hepburn in the 1950s, those classic Hollywood throwbacks, but still feel fresh and current.”
TV personality and longtime client Christine Chiu stepped out in a contemporary design from Armani’s collaboration with lifestyle brand Kith.
“I love that about Armani, that although they’re timeless and classic, somehow they always have their pulse on what’s cool, what’s chic,” she said. “And then they’re setting the next trend without losing the elegance.”
Meanwhile Nam arrived in vintage — an Armani suit the singer said had been hanging in his closet for just the right moment.
“It’s been sitting there waiting for a great day to be worn,” he said. “And here we are.”








