Giorgio Armani Red Carpet (Fashion Wire Daily)

Paris - Giorgio Armani calls his haute couture collection Armani Prive, but maybe he might consider renaming it Armani Red Carpet.

No designer has a bigger reputation in Hollywood than Giorgio, and one could fully understand why after enjoying his fall 2008 Prive collection, his latest, and largely successful, attempt to remake couture in his own image.

Armani striped back the collection this season, eschewing the arty hats he normally favors, and opening with a great series of fall suits and separates, designed for the Ladies Who Rule, rather than the Ladies Who Lunch. His devilishly well draped jackets in everything from mango leather or puckered silk and pleated pants with high waists in bird's silk or grisaille all looked snazzy and posh, yet never stiff.

Though he's the richest designer on the planet, Armani historically never used super models in his shows, on the grounds that they "distract" attention from the clothes. This season, he sent out a phalanx of uber babes, from the runways' best walker Vlada Roslyakova to the best show finisher of all, Natasha Poly, mesmerizing in a dazzling glass beaded dress that cried out for one missing accessory - an Oscar statuette.

Dolled up with Veronica Lake, peek-a-boo, hairstyles, the models drew oohs and aahs from the audience, composed of real, genuine couture costumers, quite frankly a rare species at many couture shows.

Their excitement grew towards the finale, applause rippling through the space at a divine black and white bustier dress held miraculously together with a horizontal velvet bow.

"It's a pure distillation of my style," Armani told FWD after taking his bow before an audience that included Helen Mirren, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Elsa Zylberstein and the ever beautiful Princess of Savoy Clotilde Courau.