Decades of the most important fashion innovations and looks came out of his skilled hands. He is easily one of the most widely recognized names in fashion, up there with Oscar de la Renta, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Ralph Lauren. His influence and passion are carried on in the next generation with young designers taking inspiration from his many glamorous looks. His looks were known to be minimalist, with staples that were the utmost in sophistication. The jackets and suits that he did were next-level extraordinary. The Armani suit is one of the most wellknown pieces in fashion, worn by world leaders, celebrities, and billionaires, as well as the average man who wanted the absolute best suit possible to make the right impression.
So where did this powerhouse in fashion come from? And how did he manage to create a billion-dollar business on the back of an unstructured jacket coming from a tiny Italian town? It all started when he was born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy. His parents were Ugo Armani, who was an accountant by profession for a company that provided transportation, and his mom was Maria Raimondi. It’s been said that his mother influenced his love for elegance and style.
HIS LOOKS WERE TO
BE
MINIMALIST, STAPLES THAT UTMOST IN SOPHISTICA TION. THE JACKETS SUITS THAT HE NEXT-LEVEL EXTRAORDI NARY. THE ARMANI ONE OF THE MOST KNOWN PIECES
WORN BY WORLD CELEBRITIES, AND AIRES,
AS WELL
Silvana is on the board of Armani and considered the vice president of the brand, as well as the head of the women’s divisions for Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, and Armani Exchange. She is seen as one of the creative and style forces that will carry on her uncle’s legacy through her creativity. When she worked alongside Armani, she was able to learn how he liked his silhouettes and fabrics to be in each collection.
Her sister, Roberta, is the director and VP and head of public relations for the company. On an interesting note, one of her first jobs when she was younger was working at the Armani Exchange store in New York City, where she was raised.
She has the exciting task of overseeing celebrity relations for the brand and is known for her high-society connections from growing up as an Armani. Oftentimes, she has said that she was her uncle’s favorite. She also holds a seat on the board, like her sister, and will be instrumental in continuing the success of Armani for the future.
“KIND, GENEROUS AND LOYAL.
A TRUE PIONEER OF ELEGANCE. A GLOBAL INSPIRATION.”
Michelle Pfeiffer to Reuters
HIS LINES WERE MINIMALIST, with luxury fabrics and an attention to detail unlike any other. The clothing someone bought from Armani would last a lifetime, meant to be worn again and again with the utmost quality. Some of the qualities of the deconstructed suits were gorgeous tailoring and a structure that provided both shape and comfort. He removed some of the restrictive shoulder pads that were such a part of the suiting industry. Heavy linings were also removed to make being able to move in his suits much easier. There was a pleasure in wearing an Armani suit. The lightweight construction and fluid drape made everything more seamless to wear.
HOLLYWOOD
Armani’s creations quickly became hugely popular among film stars and musicians, and were widely used in major films.
Everyone has immediate recognizability with the name Armani, so it’s natural that he would often make the news over the decades that he influenced the fashion industry and many others. The film industry with costume design was especially a bright light in Armani’s life and legacy. Here are some more moments in the film industry where Armani made his mark and some other pivotal moments where his legendary status shined bright in pop culture.
ARMANI BEAUTY
IN 1980, Armani entered into an agreement with L’Oreal Beauty to make their fragrances and cosmetic products. The first products that the brand came out with were a women’s and men’s fragrance that launched in 1982 and 1984 respectively. They went on to develop a complete beauty and skincare line which featured celebs like Beyoncé, Cate Blanchett, Megan Fox, and Sydney Sweeney over the years. Sydney Sweeney was a big get for the company, as she is one of the most popular young stars of today with roles in films like Anyone But You and TV shows like The White Lotus and Euphoria. She is considered a global fragrance and makeup ambassador for the company.
“HEARTBROKEN TO HEAR ABOUT THE PASSING OF A LEGEND.
A TRUE MASTER OF HIS CRAFT.”
Cindy Crawford on Instagram
MMaybe it was his close connection to the film industry with all the costume design work that he did, or maybe it was the fact that his magnetic personality drew fabulous friends to him from all over the world. Either way, his clothes were very well represented on the red carpets, at award shows, and present at all kinds of important world events. There is something absolutely phenomenal about wearing an Armani suit or intricate evening gown.
If you name an A-lister in Hollywood, they have probably appeared in photos in something the great Armani has designed. Let’s look at some of the most memorable looks over the years that have made Armani one of the greatest designers ever to have dressed the stars as a red carpet standout.
ANNE HATHAWAY
AT THE 2009 ACADEMY AWARDS
THIS WAS A BIG YEAR for Anne, since she was nominated for Rachel Getting Married that year. The gown was a strapless, column-style design in a champagne tone with touches of silver. It was fitted to her body but ended in a mermaid-style skirt that looked like there was a burst of light coming up from beneath her. This dress is often described as one of her best looks and a standout on the red carpet for the Armani brand.
RIHANNA
AT THE 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS
ARMANI DIDN’T JUST DRESS movie stars, but had his hand in adorning the music elite. That included Rihanna at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Armani made her a custom black silk gown which was the exact ideal of what a minimalist evening gown should look like in this elegant, yet understated style. It had a deep plunging neckline down the front with a high slit up the side and a dramatically open back. This was a statement dress like no other. Rihanna looked every bit the pop goddess she truly is in this gown.
“HE DRESSED ME FOR SO MANY TURNING POINTS IN MY LIFE. HE SHAPED NOT JUST HOW WE DRESS, BUT HOW WE FEEL.”
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ISBN: 97887-85374-18-9
Printet at Print Best, Estonia, 2026 1. edition, 1. printing
