Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani born 11 July 1934

Born in Piacenza, Italy, Giorgio Armani is one the greatest fashion designers of the last 50 years and with his couture collections and various diffusion lines has been at the forefront of creating the modern designer as superstar as brand as household name - yet still retaining his class and mystique.

He originally trained in medicine, giving it up to pursue photography before doing his national service in 1957. He then worked as a window dresser in a department store, La Rinascente. From 1961-70 he worked as an in-house designer for Nino Cerruti, leaving to pursue freelance work. In 1974, with his partner Sergio Galeotti, he launched his first Giorgio Armani S.p.A. menswear line, adding womenswear in 1975. Galeotti died from AIDS in 1985, aged only 40.

He is known for elegant, luxurious, clean yet soft tailored lines, often in a palette of classic neutrals, slate greys and navy. His unstructured jackets and unisex women's clothing defined the 80s and gave women a functional and yet feminine business dress - reinventing the trouser suit.




He achieved the breakthrough to international fame through costuming the occasional Hollywood film - notably, Richard Gere in American Gigolo, and The Untouchables.

He remains a popular choice for stars seeking classic elegance on international red carpets, and his many clothing lines, fragrances, accessories and homewares can be found in department stores and on smarter shopping streets worldwide.