Giorgio Armani

why we like him?

He makes us look good. He makes people stand out in a crowd, and gives us presence with his beautifully tailored clothes. Presence is what we sometimes don't have when we slouch into a room.

why is he famous?
Giorgio Armani has created one of the most well-known and upscale fashion brands in the world, and has turned his Italian company into a fashion giant with an incredible $1 billion in sales.

overall rating

83

Giorgio Armani is one of the most influential and famous designers in the world. His name is associated with 2 things: power suits and quality fabrics. Ever since the Greedy '80s, Wall Street hot shots and Hollywood "super-agents" have been wearing his suits, known to inspire confidence in the wearer and respect from others.

Though he never set out to be a designer, Armani has taken the little company he created in 1974 and turned it into a fashion empire, where his wears are regularly featured in media-heavy events such as the Academy Awards. Sales have reached over $1 billion, primarily from the United States. In 1998, he boasted having the highest profits of any Italian fashion house. Armani has used the cachet of his brand name to launch multiple lines that include: A/X Armani Exchange, Giorgio Armani, Armani Jeans Emporio Armani, and Armani Golf. Even though Giorgio Armani, the man behind the name, has entered retirement age (he celebrated his 65th birthday in 2000), he is as involved as ever in his business. And one thing that will never change is his style. His fashion shows are filled with wearable clothes, with easy-fit garments and beautiful tailoring. He is not a fan of the extravagance often put on by other designers during fashion shows. This can also be seen in his clothes, where he tends to eliminate the superfluous to emphasize elegance and comfort. This can also be seen in his business, where he continues to take Armani to the pinnacle of every niche market he enters.

personality & talent

94

Before becoming a famous designer, he briefly dabbled in photography and attended medical school for 2 years. He worked for Ungaro and Zegna as a buyer, fashion coordinator and staff designer, where he evolved his style. His talent as a designer can be traced back to his 20 years in the industry, and his intricate ability to produce timeless clothing that remains in tune with the times. He is known to be arrogant and rude, and loves being hailed as the top Italian designer (which explains his dislike for Valentino and Versace). Sophia Loren says this of Armani's skills and talents; "Armani knows what women want. I feel comfortable wearing his clothes and I would excuse him even if he showed women naked! But I love his transparencies, it's a matter of now you see it, now you don't." woman magnetism 70

Armani has recently admitted what everyone already knew, that he is bisexual. In a recent Vanity Fair interview he said, "I have had women in my life. And sometimes men... to do this work, one must have a free mind." Not that he would have a hard time attracting his share of women, especially with the promise of some free couture, but the ladies will have to settle for being a second choice since, Armani admitted to preferring men over women. accomplishments & fame 92

In 1982, Armani became the first fashion designer to appear on the cover of Time magazine since Christian Dior in the 1940s. That caused the ire of fellow Italian designer Valentino, who failed to understand why he was overlooked. The enormous buzz that Armani carried in the '80s was primarily due to his roster of celebrity clients. He became one of the first designers to actively seek out celebrities to get his name out, beginning with super stylish coach Pat Riley of the Los Angeles Lakers at the time. coolness factor 59

Armani isn't the easiest of people to talk to, or even hang around with. If his cold stare doesn't scare you away, the snobbish attitude will. Not cool, Giorgio. personal style 98

It's Armani for crying out loud. This category should be named after him.

That Giorgio gives us a perpetual and limitless gift certificate for all his retail stores. We promise we won't abuse it; no more than 400 or 500 friends at a time.

quote
"My philosophy has always been to help women and men feel comfortable and confident through the clothes that they wear, rather than to create decoration for the sake of it." -Giorgio Armani

biography
Giorgio Armani was born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy. One of three children, Armani had his heart set on becoming a doctor. After graduating high school, a young Armani headed to medical school at the University of Bologna, but after 2 years he realized that medicine -- specifically the sight of blood -- was not for him.

With some previous experience in photography and a brief time in the military, Armani was hired as a window-dresser and then a buyer for La Rinescente; Milan's largest department store. Armed with merchandising experience and a desire to design, Armani was then hired as an assistant designer for Nino Cerruti's men's clothing company, Hitman, for 6 years.

fly like an eagle

It was then time to take his work to a more independent level. Before the Armani line, as we know it today, was established, the man behind the eagle label worked as a freelance designer after having gained experience at Ungaro and Zegna. In 1975, along with partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani founded his own men's ready-towear line, while the women's wear followed a year later. It took selling a Volkswagen to help finance the label, which has grown into the billion-dollar industry it is today. By combining elegance with a sophisticated style, Armani succeeded by giving sports jackets a sportswear feel and making the tailoring less severe. In the early '80s, Armani saw the potential of getting his designs into movies, when he provided Richard Gere's wardrobe in 1980's American Gigolo. Since then, his creations have been seen on the Oscar red carpet and at Hollywood affairs, on celebrities like Jodie Foster, Michelle Pfeiffer, Russell Crowe, Benjamin Bratt, Robert De Niro, and Benicio Del Toro.

an empire is established
Giorgio Armani launched Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans in 1981; Armani women's perfume in 1982; Armani men's fragrance in 1984; Notturno telephone (manufactured by Italtel) in 1986; Giorgio Armani Occhiali and Giorgio Armani Calze in 1987; A/X Armani Exchange in 1991; Acqua di Gio women's perfume, Giorgio Armani Neve (Snow), and Giorgio Armani Golf, all in 1995; and Acqua di Gio men's fragrance and Giorgio Armani Classico for men and women, in 1996. Armani's empire also includes swimwear, underwear and accessories, for both men and women. Even at the very start of his career in fashion design, Armani's power and talent were evident. In 1982, he was the first fashion designer to appear on the cover of Time magazine since Christian Dior. His list of awards and honors include: the Neiman Marcus Award in 1979 CUTTY SARK Award for International Top Men's Fashion Designer in 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, and 1987 GQ magazine's Men's Style Award for best fashion designer in 1981 Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1983 Commendatore Dell'Ordine Al Merito Della Repubblica (Italian Government Award) in 1985

 Occhio D'Oro as Best Designer for Spring/Summer Collections in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1988 Gran Caveliere Della Repubblica (Italian Government Award) and the Lifetime Achievement Award for men's wear by the CFDA in 1987 the PETA Award in 1990 the Fiorino D'Oro Award for promoting Made in Italy image in 1992 Aguja De Oro Award for Best Designer of the Year in 1993 GQ's Man of the Year Award in 1996 This is but a few of Armani's awards.

nothing like armani

He may have a list of awards as long as the number of zeros in his bank account, but Armani isn't all charm -- those who know the famous designer well describe him as arrogant at times. A self-proclaimed workaholic, it is Armani's hard work, creativity and philosophy of style that have earned him his fortune and accolades. While Ralph Lauren boasts classic pieces for the yuppie and the polo player/country enthusiast, and Calvin Klein revolutionized the tailored suit with clean lines, Armani designs for the thinkers -those who choose comfort over the superfluous. His design philosophy follows 3 golden rules: eliminate the superfluous, emphasize the comfortable, and acknowledge the elegance of the uncomplicated.

giorgio the great

With more than 2000 stores worldwide and billions of dollars in annual sales, many adhere to Armani's philosophy. It's this success that explains why he has houses in Broni, Forte dei Marmi and Pantelleria in Italy, and St. Tropez in the French Riviera. When not in either of these homes, Armani is busy working at Armani's head office, Via Borgonuovo, 21, 20121 Milan. In addition to the multitude of awards, Armani's 25 years in the industry were honored by New York's Guggenheim Museum -- and he's the only designer whose work is displayed there. Armani revolutionized fashion by changing the definition of men's power suits, altering the way women dressed, and by proving that luxurious doesn't mean uncomfortable and busy. Synonymous with understated chic, Armani and his eagle logo have soared through fashion history -- and will probably remain there for years to come.