100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #27: Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani attends the opening of Spazio Armani on Via Montenapoleane in Milan. Getty Images.

FACT BOX TITLE Born:
July 11, 1934 in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Designed for:
Nino Cerruti, Armani Collezione, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, etc.; Alitalia (uniforms)
Fans:
Katie Holmes, Cate Blanchett, Investment Brokers in the 1980s
Not a Fan of:
Gianni Versace, Valentino, Donatella Versace
Beginnings.
Giorgio Armani dropped out of medical school at the University of Milan in the 1950s, taking a job with La Rinascente department store. He was eventually promoted to the style office, where he bought clothing from around the world to feature in the stores. He plunged further into the fashion world when he began designing for Nino Cerruti - sans formal training.

Career Highs.
Giorgio Armani made a name for himself by using interesting fabrics in unique contexts, but he catapulted to international stardom when he designed the wardrobe for Richard Gere's title character in the popular film American Gigolo (1980). He redefined the suit for both men and women in the 1980s, his "power suits" eventually coming to define an era of economic success.
I design for real people. I think of our customers all the time. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothing or accessories that are not practical.
- Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani photo gallery.
Career Lows.
In 1996, Armani was convicted of embezzlement (as was fellow designer Gianfranco Ferre). While such an incident might have destroyed a lesser designer, Armani quickly recovered. In 2001, Forbes listed Armani as one of the most successful designers in the world, with an estimated personal net worth of $5 billion.

Legacy.
Giorgio Armani set the bar for businesswear near the end of the 20th century. He revolutionized the use of lightweight, flexible fabrics in businesswear, allowing for both luxury and comfort. His minimal, always contemporary designs make the combination of exquisite tailoring, unmatched comfort, and subtle sex appeal seem effortless.

The Armani Autumn/Winter 2007 Collection.

Get the Look.
Armani has often said that fashion is useless if it's impractical. Dress for comfort above all else, but remember: less is more. Armani often makes public appearances in jeans and a trademark black sweater. If the clothes fit well and make you feel good about your appearance, I'm sure Mr. Armani would approve. - Alicia