Website: www.giorgioarmani.com
Giorgio Armani is the world's second largest selling designer (the first is Ralph Lauren) who sells approx. $ 2 billion per year retail. His products are sold in over 100 countries. He has reached this position because everyone looks fabulous when they wear Armani, they feel so confident, so chic and yet so utterly themselves. It is like magic. He is the magician.
1934 Giorgio Armani was born in Piacanza, Italy, an industrial town about 20 miles south of Milan. He was the son of Marie and Ugo Armani. His father was a transport manager for a shipping company. His mother made all the family's clothes. The family traces some Austrian ancestry..
He studied medicine at the University of Bologna from 1952 to 1953. Then he studied photography.
Armani joined the Military service from 1953 to 1954.
1954 His first job was as a window dresser in the La Rinascente departmental store, in Milan. After working some time, he found that his window arrangements were too radical for his superiors, so they moved him to the purchasing department, where he learnt how to select fabrics. He became Junior Buyer.
1964 He left La Rinascente and joined Nino Cerruti where he worked as a designer for his menswear company Hitman.
197O Armani started a company with his friend Sergio Galeotti, who was an architectural draftsman. For five years, they freelanced with various manufacturers and designed for others. He made womens clothes for Tendresse, mannish coats for Gibo, a ready-to-wear house in Florence and also made two menswear collections for Emanuel Ungaro, from whom he learned the good cutting technques he needed.
1974 Giorgio held the first show in his own name.
1975 Giorgio Armani launched his own label with the founding of the Giorgio Armani Company. He also started ready-to-wear and Armani Junior, his children's line. In these days he drove a blue Porsche car.
1979 He started his Mani collection of less expensive wear for women and and Le Collezione collection for men. In this year, he also designed clothes for Richard Gere In the movie "American Gigolo" and received the Neiman Marcus Award.
1981 Giorgio Armani opened his Emporio Armani line. He started his Armani Jeans line. He also started his first Armani Express Restaurant, Which he later branched out into many others.
On April 5th 1982, Giorgi was on the cover of Time Magazine. He was the first Italian designer to be so honoured, and only the second after Dior.
Armani started his Fragrance Company, and introduced the perfumes :
ARMANI LE PERFUME
ARMANI EAU POUR HOMME.
1983 He received the CFDA International Award
1987 Giorgio Armani opened his Armani Occhiali his Eye Wear line.
1991 Armani launched his A/X (Armani Exchange) Line of Jeans and T-shirts.
1994 Introduced his ski-wear line. Armani was the tailor to Donald Duck, at his 60th birthday celebrations at Disney Land.
1995 Giorgi Armani found his London store too small, and so he replaced it with premises more than 3 times the size.
1996 Armani Neve (Snow) line for Winter sportsmen And his Golf and Classico lines.
In 2000 Armani launched his Cosmetics Line
The Armani Style :
Following the phenomenal success of his menswear, Armani used the elements of masculine tailoring to make feminine garments. Armani understands how to make a suit sexy. He made jackets without stiff linings, opened up the armholes, deleted superfluous buttons and re-figured the proportions. He used soft slinky dress fabrics to make jackets, so lacking in starch that they could scarcely hold a crease.
Every woman, once she has worn an Armani jacket, is hooked for life.
The design of the Armani jacket is far removed from traditional principles of jacket tailoring. On ordinary jackets, the shoulders fit tightly, the waist is apparent and it hits the breast. His jackets do not do any of these. He makes the shoulder sloping, giving the illusion of a longer neck, the fabric at the collar is pared away, again lengthening the neck, and the whole effect is restrained and languid, not at all masculine.
His clothes have a sense of control and the lack of fuss and clutter make a women feel comfortable.
Journalists are always trying to find the right word to describe the colour of an Armani jacket. This is because he uses a dense weave of 5 or even 8 strands of different colours, which at a distance merge into a neutral. This can be called beige, or stone, pearl, mink, sludge, etc. In addition to jackets, Giorgio Armani also designs trousers, dresses, swimwear, jeans, ski-wear and other garments. In all cases he stresses simplicity, and minimalism. He hardly uses accessories or jewellery in his collections.
His style is the perfect bridge between refined elegance and down-to-earth comfort.
He does not only design for rich women. He has designed the uniforms for the Italian Air Force, for Alitalia flight attendants, waiters in some of the world's best restaurants as well as Donald Duck's 60th birthday.
Armani does not use super models to show his clothes, he prefers lesser known beauties which he feels helps the viewer to concentrate on the garments.
Goodwill Ambassador :
In May 2002 Giorgio Armani was named a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations for his work with Afghan refugees and the campaigns he has conducted to raise awareness and funds.
Spring/Summer 2003
Giorgio Armani presented his Spring/Summer 2003 collection in Milan in September 2002. This is an outfit from that collection.
His models looked serene and stately in slim jackets over wide loose drawstring trousers, fluid, light and expert.
Fall 2003
At Milan Fashion week in March 2003, Giorgio Armani presented his Fall/Winter 2003 collection. On the left is an outfit from the show.
She's got Legs. This is not what the fashion audience expected from Giorgio Armani, but his models wore black A-line minis with high heels. His short and cute reminded us of the 60's. He said himself "you have to change - it is too easy to do mannish trousers". It was a refreshing change and made Armani attractive to young wiomen on the hunt for ideas for a Fall look.
The designer mixed textures, soft jackets, flippy skirts, chiefly in his signature palette of black, white and gray but with a few floral prints and a sprinkling of sparkle. Mod striped mohair sweaters, double-layered skirts and little leather jackets stood out.
The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, held an exhibition called "Fashion - Italian Style" from February to April 2003.
Armani's 1970's unstructured jackets were on display, which changed fashion forever. He was the first designer to realize a profitable symbiosis between movies and fashion with "American Gigolo" with Richard Gere, and Diane Keaton's "Annie Hall".
Spring/Summer 2004
During Milan Fashion Week in September 2003, Giorgio Armani showed his collection for next Spring. An outfit from the show is shown on the left.
The collection was a jaunty nautical show of stripes that went in every direction on shorts, baggy pants, high-waisted trousers, jackets, skimpy summer dresses and even floppy hats. 102 looks were paraded with brilliant, typically quality separates.
Giorgio has unveiled his first car design this week, a Mercedes-Benz CLK and has also launched a new exclusive Armani disco in the basement of his Via Manzoni superstore.
RCA Exhibition
In October 2003, the Royal College of Art in London opened their Retrospective Exhibition of the work of Giorgio Armani exploring his career and designs. On the right is a picture at the opening of the exhibition, showing the designer with actors Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton who starred in the film "American Gigolo" in 1980, clothes for which were designed by Armani. Lauren Hutton is also a very famous supermodel from the 70's and 80's who is still seen today, You can read more about her by clicking on Lauren Hutton
Below you can see Giorgio sitting in front of a selection of the gowns selected for the exhibition.
Other activities
Giorgio runs the Nobu bar in Milan, which has a one-of-a-kind atmosphere combining a sushi bar, cozy chic interior, and a private members-only club called Prive. He feels it is successful because people can enjoy an evening without being in a loud crowded nightclub.
Armani has also gone into partnership to set up luxury hotels in Dubai and has great plans for the decor and furnishings, which will be in his inimitable style.
Fall/Winter 2004 ready-to-wear
Giorgio presented his Fall collection in Milan during Fashion Week in February 2004. He surprised the whole fashion industry by going from Art Deco to Art Nouveau, replacing the linear with sinuous curves. It was an amazingly new collection with livid purples and blues alongside black, as though a storm had broken over the designer's usual style.
It was feminine, subtle and sexy, a little bit violent and definitely not romantic. He was laughing at the jolt he had given the audience. He said his inspiration was the craze for vintage, realizing that women collected antique pieces because they were unique, so he created his own unique pieces. Everyone found it very refreshing and fluid.
Oscar Night February 2004
Julia Roberts, the great Hollywood beauty, wore the gown shown on the right, designed by Giorgio Armani, on the Oscar Awards Night in February 2004.
Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2005
During Milan Fashion Week in September 2004, Giorgio Armani presented his Emporium Spring collection. An outfit from the collection is shown on the left.
He was inspired by India, and the days of the Raj. Jodhpurs, turbans, flat sandals, Nehru jackets and jewel-encrusted dancing girls. As you see from the picture on the left, even pattis worn on the legs by Indian policemen, got into his collection.
A few days later, Giorgio showed his own collection which was in homage to the great 30s designer Elsa Schiaparelli. He combined it with Chinese themes such as coolie hats, Oriental fan-shape skirts and narrow pants. But how could he forget his red-carpet evening dresses. Gorgeous gowns, subtly patterned were definitely there ready for Oscar night.
Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2005
Armani Prive
During January 2005, the Haute Couture shows for Spring/Summer 2005 took place in Paris. Giorgio Armani decided to show in Paris for the first time and his new line Haute Couture Prive was a collection of glamorous and graceful evening gowns which was a resounding success. Haute Couture has been reported as dead, but this white-haired knight has stepped in to save the day. He wanted to make the luxurious perfect gowns in the Haute Couture style, which was not always possible with ready-to-wear when exact sizing and adjustments for a perfect fit are not always possible. He feels that there are a great many women out there who are prepared to pay for the perfection of a Haute Couture gown, and that he is the one who can make it for them. He says "I want to revive a spirit of supreme elegance that we seem to have lost".
Armani used a few colours but mainly white or black, with crystal beads, pearl embroidery and lacy applique flowers showing breathtaking craftsmanship. The result was beautiful with the image of couture's lofty grandeur with a punch of modernity. His collection will go on to Los Angeles in February just before the Oscars and then New York and Hong Kong for client showings.
Ready-to-Wear
Autumn/Winter 2005
Giorgio Armani presented his Emporio Autumn/Winter collection during Milan Fashion Week in February 2005.
This was the first of his shows, the clothes for the younger clientele. There were over 100 outfits to suit all ages.
The models came down the ramp in twos and threes in niply velvet jackets and A-line coats with huge buttons.
Turbans were worn on all heads. He even put secretary-style spectacles on a bunch of girls.
Armani played about with the cut of the cloth and used the odd print or stripy tights, embroidered tulips were also added on some clothes.
It was a jaunty show.
Giorgio is the designer who makes women feel that every outfit he makes can be worn on the street with style.
Well he seems to have had a joke with them with his own label collection shown a few days after the Emporio one. Some of the strangest clothes he has ever made, were seen on the Milan catwalk.
This particular outfit on the left, is made up of velvet bloomers with a cuff around the bottom edge. Sequined rompers, worn with one-shoulder ruffled tops and a tricorn hat looked rather like a carnival costume. Even the occasional skirts were weird, bunchy or cupping the rear before fluting out.
It was certainly an unusual Armani show.
Oscar Night
February 27th 2005
Giorgio Armani is always called on for red-carpet occasions and the Oscars were no exception.
Here on the right is Annette Bening, who was nominated for the Best Actress award. She is wearing a beautiful black gown from the Armani Prive collection. She is accompanied by her husband, Warren Beatty.
A Night in Rome
On June 1st 2005, people in Rome enjoyed a wonderful spectacle. Italy's four leading fashion designers Armani, Valentino, Gianfranco Ferre, and Donatella Versace put on a show of their creations. One of the gowns made by Armani is shown on the left.
Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2005 
The Haute Couture collections for Autumn/Winter 2005 were held in Paris in July 2005. Giorgio Armani held his second Prive collection in Paris concentrating on heavily beaded and embellished all-black evening gowns. His faithful clientele included Tina Turner and Rita Wilson (Tom Hanks' wife) who wore his creations. He also presented daywear furs printed with animal prints and forties-style peplum single-breasted jackets with fitted waists and padded shoulders. His show was feminine and sensual
Spring/Summer 2006
Milan Fashion Week
Giorgio Armani presented his Emporio Spring/Summer 2006 collection during Milan Fashion Week in September 2005. Two outfits from the collection are shown on the left.
This is his second more economic line, and it concentrated on jackets or tops over printed cotton skirts, or soft crepe skirtsuits with flyaway satin frills. T shirts and taffeta sailor trousers were also shown.
A few days later Giorgio showed his main collection, and on the right is a picture of two very sweet satin evening frocks from this shows.
Armani is well known for his beaded, shimmering once-in-a-lifetime gowns, and he didn't let the audience down this time. Crystal-frosted gowns, finely layered chiffon and tulle, minute embroideries and beautiful fragility marked all his creations. All his models carried lovely handbags, all different, and it seems that Armani is really going into the handbag business.
Armani sells 75% of his company
Giorgio Armani has entered into a contract with Como Holdings headed by Singaporean luxury entrepreneur Christina Ong.
Armani will only keep 25 % of the stock, while Ong will have the controlling 75 %.
Giorgio said that he hopes to make a turnover of $ 5.5 billion annually by 2008, against the $ 3 billion in 2005. At the momen there are 339 Armani stores worldwide, employing about 5,000 people.
PEOPLE AROUND GIORGI ARMANI
His partner Sergio Galeotti was with him from 1970 till he died at the young age of 40, in 1984.
He has a younger sister Rosanna, who looks after styling and advertisements, and two nieces Roberta and Silvana who are both helping him with the designing. He is training them up to take over as he slows down (although at nearly 70 years old, there is no sign of slowing down yet)
His right-hand woman is Gabriella Forte, who is now a Vice President of the Company. Jackie Kennedy's sister Lee Radziwill is a Public Relations manager and Leo Dell'Orco is a designer who joined him in 1974.
PLACES HE LIVES IN.
His HQ is a 16th century palace on Via Borgonuova in Milan, where he also has an apartment. He has a country house at Forte del Marni, and a futuristic cement and glass house on the island of Pantellera between Cicily and the African coast. He has also recently bought a house at St. Tropez on the French Riviera.
click below:
Giorgio Armani by Nicola White
Giorgio Armani by Germano Celant
Giorgio Armani: Images of Man by Richard Martin
Giorgio Armani Mens Wear by Richard Martin
2006
Armani le Parfum (W)