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The man, the brand, the legend.
If there’s one designer who’s synonymous with both revolutionizing tailoring and elevating red carpet dressing for Hollywood’s leading stars over the last 40 years, it is Giorgio Armani.
Ever since Richard Gere graced screens in the movie American Gigolo in 1980 in an array of soft gray Armani suits, the Italian label has been sought-after by stars for its impeccable designs. To date, images of the label’s ultra-relaxed and fluid silhouettes in muted hues from that era still inspire the hunt for the quintessential “power suit.” Ask any designer of today trying to replicate that sense of easy, effortless elegance, and no doubt you’ll find Armani images from years past on their mood boards too.
Having recently celebrated his 90th birthday, the designer is still the sole shareholder of the Armani company, meaning that the celebrated fashion force independently oversees an empire that includes Giorgio Armani, Giorgio Armani Privé, Emporio Armani, and Armani Exchange as well as cosmetics and home decor lines and hotel and hospitality endeavors. And he has done this for 50 years, adding more ventures to his empire as the decades go by.
From his influence on pop culture and celebrity dressing to his lifetime achievement awards and contributions to design, here is your primer on Maestro Armani.
He Wanted to Be a Doctor
Before pursuing design, Armani was on track to follow an entirely different career path. Armani initially studied medicine and photography but proceeded to join the Italian military in 1953. It was only when he found himself placed in an infirmary in Verona that he started to consider an alternative plan for the future. After leaving the army, he found work as a window dresser at the famous Milanese department store, La Rinascente, and was eventually hired in the menswear department as a sales associate.
A Friend Encouraged Him to Start His Own Label
Armani found his stride after training under Nino Cerruti as a menswear designer. In 1975, along with his friend and business partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani launched his namesake menswear and womenswear line. Just one year later, in 1976, his designs were already being stocked in Barney’s New York. Galeotti, a true force behind the Armani machine, tragically passed away at the age of 40 in 1985.
Armani Redefined the Suit
When emerging heartthrob Richard Gere appeared in American Gigolo (1980) as Julian Kaye kitted out in soft-shouldered suits that were the perfect mix of grey and beige, Armani officially became the hottest name in fashion. Ten years later, when Julia Roberts accepted her Golden Globes award at the 1990 ceremony suited and booted in a charcoal two-piece of his design, her iconic outfit popularized androgynous dressing for women everywhere. Armani has said of his approach: “I was the first to soften the image of men and harden the image of women. I dressed men in women’s fabrics, and stole from men what women wanted and needed—the power suit.”
Armani Is a Red Carpet Good Luck Charm
There’s rarely an awards ceremony that doesn’t feature A-listers in Armani. In fact, there’s typically a good chance that an awards ceremony will include winners dressed in the Italian house. The LA Times once crunched the numbers and found that between 1996 and 2017, 38% of the lead actor winners and 33% of the supporting actor winners at the Oscars were outfitted by Armani on their big night. Among the Hollywood heavyweights who have worn Armani to accept their Oscar statuettes are Jodie Foster, Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, Renée Zellweger, and Michelle Yeoh.
Armani Debuted Couture in 2005
Never one to slow down, Armani added a new string to his bow in 2005. At 70 years old and already 30 years into his hallowed career, the designer got into the couture game and launched Armani Privé. Thanks to a partnership with MSN, the Armani Privé spring/summer 2007 show was the first couture show to be broadcast on cellular phones.
Armani Is an Award-Winning Designer
The Italian government has recognized the designer’s contributions to his native country numerous times, including the prestigious Grand Knight of the Republic in 1987. Armani also holds two awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the French Legion d’Honneur, honorary doctorates and degrees from the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins in London and the Accademia di Brera in Milan, and a star on the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style.
Armani Is an Avid Sports Fan
For the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Italian athletes proudly wore Armani, and for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the Italian flag-bearers wore his designs during the opening ceremony. The designer has also kitted out professional teams including the England national football team, Chelsea Football Club, and Australia’s Rabbitohs. A keen sports fan, in 2008, Armani purchased the successful basketball club Olimpia Milano, which he still owns today.
He Celebrated His 90th Birthday in New York
In late 2024, Mr. Armani celebrated a triple-whammy of milestones with a glamorous, once-off bash in Manhattan. Coinciding with the reopening of his New York flagship, his 90th birthday, and the brand’s 50th anniversary, the designer took over the Park Avenue Armory for a bonanza celebration to reveal the Spring Summer 2025 collection. Among his fans who stopped by to show their support were Amanda Seyfried, Pamela Anderson, Brie Larson, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.