Armani, Giorgio, 1934–, Italian fashion designer. He designed menswear at Nino Cerruti (1964–70), then worked freelance until 1975 when, in partnership with Sergio Galeotti, he opened his Milan design house. Armani was soon acclaimed for elegant, relaxed clothes, especially for fluidly tailored, understated suits for men and women, made of luxuriant fabrics in muted colors and often featuring softly lined "unconstructed" jackets. This approach was reflected in his wardrobe for Richard Gere in the film American Gigolo (1980). In the 1980s he became the favorite designer of the "power suit" for both sexes. Armani remains an important fashion designer, and has introduced a series of successful lines, including jeans, fabrics, underwear, fragrances, eyeglasses, housewares, sportswear (opening A/X in 1991), watches, cosmetics, and (in 2005) haute couture.

Bibliography

See studies by R. Martin and H. Koda (1990) and G. Celand and H. Koda (2000); Biography: Giorgio Armani (video, 2001).

Armani, Giorgio

(born July 11, 1934, Piacenza, Italy) Italian fashion designer. He abandoned medical school and worked as a buyer for a department store (1957–64) before training as a fashion designer. In 1974–75 he introduced his own label of ready-to-wear apparel for men and women. In 1980–81 he founded Giorgio Armani USA, Emporio Armani, and Armani Jeans, and in 1989 he opened shops in London. He was a leader in the move toward a pared-down, unstructured silhouette in menswear and was responsible for the wide-shouldered look for executive women. His designs, often characterized by understated glamour and luxurious fabrics, introduced ease and streamlined modernity into late 20th-century dressing.