Giorgio Armani is a fashion giant who first made his mark in menswear. His signature soft approach to tailoring reshaped not only the masculine suit but also male stereotypes. See Richard Gere at his most drop-dead gorgeous in 1980’s American Gigolo for proof. When it comes to womenswear, Armani focuses on sartorialism rather than flou, bringing some of the swagger traditionally associated with haberdashery into a new realm.
Having studied to be a doctor at one point, Armani understands the body and how it moves; he designs clothes that allow free and fluid movement. He also has a sense of occasion, and his genius was to bring a certain easy confidence to red-carpet dressing. His Italian sprezzatura translated effortlessly into Hollywood. Armani is black-tie for winners, as evidenced by stars from Jodie Foster to Cate Blanchett to Renée Zellweger, all of whom wore his designs to pick up their Oscar statuettes.
At 70 years of age and 30 years into his career, Armani got into the couture game, launching Armani Privé in 2005. Recently in Paris he showed his 38th Privé collection, once again proving the world is his oyster with a dazzling lineup inspired by the luster of pearls. As fashion’s favorite nonagenarian marks his birthday on July 11, we’ve collected 90 moments from his career to celebrate him. Tanti auguri!
Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture
Photographed by Acielle / Style Du Monde
Met Gala honorary chair Giorgio Armani with cochairs George Clooney and Julia Roberts, 2008
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Grace Jones photographed by Jean-Michel Goude in Giorgio Armani, 1981
Photo: John Kisch Archive / Getty Images
Giorgio Armani, fall 2021 menswear
Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
With Ashley Judd at Cinema Against AIDS in Aid of AmFAR, 2004
Photo: Evan Agostini / Getty Images
Backstage at Giorgio Armani’s spring 2023 ready-to-wear show
Photographed by Acielle / Style Du Monde
Giorgio Armani, fall 2017 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Corey Tenold
Giorgio Armani, fall 2018 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Corey Tenold
Armani Privé, spring 2023 couture
Photographed by Acielle / StyleDuMonde
Giorgio Armani, resort 2018
Photo: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani
Cate Blanchett arriving at Giorgio Armani’s spring 2023 show
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Giorgio Armani, fall 2019 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Corey Tenold
Armani Privé, spring 2017 couture
Photo: Sonny Vandevelde / Indigitalimages.com
Winona Ryder in Armani at the 2000 Academy Awards
Michael Crabtree – PA Images/Getty Images
Benicio del Toro, winner of the best-supporting-actor Oscar, in Armani, 2001
Photo: AMPAS / Getty Images
The designer with models, 1990
Photo: Mondadori Portfolio / Getty Images
Giorgio Armani, spring 2015 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Kevin Tachman
Giorgio Armani, fall 2019 ready-to-wear
Photographed by Corey Tenold
Giorgio Armani at the close of his spring 2024 menswear show
Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com