Giorgio Armani, Armani Privé, A|X….what?

Say Armani to anyone and most likely they’ll think of high end fashion. Yes, that high end fashion. The kind that gets little children all gooey on the inside, makes women swoon, and even makes men want to shop. But oh my! What is the difference between all these collections?

Armani? Armani Privé? Armani Exchange? Armani Collezioni? Please fashion gods, help me sort out which Armani line I want to wear, which one I can afford, and which one all the fashionistas are wearing.

Armani Exchange: Commonly referred to as A|X, I see trendy Mexican nationals, and even trendy Americans wearing Armani Exchange all the time. I don’t understand the allure of wearing these letters all over the place, but whatever floats your boat, you know? These are the kinds of clothes that you will see in the store for a few weeks and then go in a month later and not see them again, because they were trendy and “in” for that month. You’ve probably walked by an A|X before. You’ve probably even bought something from there.  Photo Shows Burnout Flutter Sleeve Top-($29-$48)

Emporio Armani: Oh! This one you can probably find more easily then any of the other Armani brands. This is the largest distributed Armani brand in the world (the exact opposite of Armani Privé).  The line is a bit more trendy and colorful then Armani Collezioni, but also adds lots of color and class to its look. It’s a happy medium between A|X and Armani Collezioni.  Shown-Emporio Armani Silk Skirt-$675

Armani Jeans: Obviously a jean line, but it also includes typical jeans and t-shirt looks. The looks aren’t as classic black and white as many of the “higher” end Armani stores are. Brights and trends are all over the place. It’s interesting to note that sometimes you can spot Emporio Armani items near Armani Jeans and vice versa.

Armani Collezioni: This is collection has a piece of my heart. It is super classic, the LBD of Armani. It’s classic, it’s timeless, and it will never go out of style. You also don’t have to go to an Armani store to pick it up. You can always run to a Neiman Marcus and get something like this Floral Jacquard Dress for $1615.

Giorgio Armani: Usually known as the black label, this is “the” high end fashion line for Armani followers.  It’s kind of like an American Express Black card, once you have it, you’ll never go back.

Armani Privé: Anne Hathaway wore Armani Privé to the Oscars this year. Of course it is fabulous! It’’s the haute couture line and you’re super lucky to wear it!

Photos from: PR Photos, Armani Exchange, Emporio Armani, Neiman Marcus, Bauer Griffin