Soon, Giorgio Armani, master of Italian fashion, will celebrate his 90th birthday and half a century since the world witnessed his genius, creating remarkable pieces known for their lightness and impeccable cut. His vast legacy in fashion, accessories, jewelry, perfumery, decoration, and even restoration reveals elegance and a sustainable subtlety that will endure over time.
Aquatic glamour
A luxury brand that leads one of the constantly changing industries must be consistent and maintain a clarity of design that endures over time and is eagerly awaited with each new collection. This was once again the case with the presentation of Giorgio Armani’s spring/summer 2024 women’s collection, named ‘Vibes’, which closed Milan Fashion Week. Radiant models paraded pieces, where beige tones were absent, seeming to have emerged from the depths of the ocean. Fabrics reproduced gentle waves, and jewelry evoked transparent underwater creatures. Scarves transformed into multicolored shells, coats echoed the landscapes of underwater tropical reefs, while necklaces seemed to reproduce the complexity of fishing nets. Tops took on the appearance of delicate fish scales, as if the models floated, authentic seductive mermaids.
Armani may have stated that there, “everything swayed: colors, sensations, and feelings,” seeming as if something had been discovered and revealed everything that transcends us. As they undulated on the runway, the models unveiled pieces devoid of earthy tones, emerging as oceanic treasures. The energy flowing between them all surpassed tangibility, revealing vibrations and incessant movements.
Giorgio Armani opened the show with an elegant champagne satin coat, paired with gray satin pants. Several outfits followed the same color palette, featuring tailored shirts, coats, and strapless dresses. For the evening, dazzling pieces stood out, including shiny tops, skirts, and pants. The color palette transitioned from champagne and gray to soft shades of blue, green, and pink. The models, with wavy hair, carried small sparkling handbags, opting for flat shoes that emphasized the importance of comfort. To conclude, a stunning long and wide dress was presented, shaped like a cloud, featuring a sporty neckline studded with crystals, covered by a floor-length transparent shawl, punctuated by additional reflections.
Fashion designer by chance
Giorgio Armani discovered his true vocation in a twist of fate. After a brief stint at medical school, interrupted by military service, he returned to civilian life in 1957. With little motivation to complete his studies, he chose to work at La Rinascente, the famous store in Milan, on Piazza Duomo, where he worked as an assistant to window dressers and as shopping assistant. This moment marked the beginning of his journey into the world of elegance. In the 1960s, he worked as a designer in Nino Cerutti’s men’s line, an experience that laid the foundations for his career in the industry. Encouraged by his close friend Sergio Galeotti, in 1974, he unveiled the first men’s collection, elevating his name to unimaginable heights. The formula, once found, used, and approved, seemed simple. However, it took the genius of this always tanned master to demonstrate that a man’s suit could be deconstructed and reconstructed without losing its masculine essence.
In 1975, he founded the Giorgio Armani brand and introduced the world to his vision of women’s fashion. The master’s goal was to express ideas through suits, even if faced with criticism. It was this open and fearless vision that transformed his tailoring into the most glamorous of all time. The sobriety of the lines did not translate into the minimalism of the pieces, but rather into a visual cleanliness of lines, presented in neutral tones and natural fabrics, revealing a clean and refined aesthetic. The women’s line of suits and blazers allowed women to achieve greater freedom in the workplace, assuming an equality stance they had long fought for, without giving up femininity.
Giorgio Armani adopted a classic approach, often focusing on clean cuts, soft lines, and well-defined silhouettes. He used high-quality fabrics, offering a luxurious feel and exquisite appearance to all women who wore his suits. Armani’s color palette always includes neutral and sophisticated tones, highlighting the versatility and suitability of each piece for various occasions.
The rise of a star
Giorgio Armani was born in 1934 in Piacenza, an Italian commune in Emilia-Romagna, a region north of Italy and south of Milan. He cherishes childhood memories of his parents, Maria Raimondi and Ugo Armani, both of Armenian descent, who, despite their basic style, did not give up on inner elegance, as money was not abundant in that family, where there were two more siblings, Rosanna and Sergio. As was customary throughout Italy at that time, clothes were sewn at home, but each piece was noticed by neighbors and friends, revealing a refined style, but one that was merely elegant. However, during World War II, the family faced a difficult time, being awakened several times during the night to seek shelter. This experience was tremendous for young Giorgio, but it gave the future designer the ability to dream and build in his mind a happier world. In 1949, the family moved to Milan, and influenced by his sister, who was a model, Giorgio began to be part of the most exclusive circles of Italian fashion. Some report that Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti’s business began with the sale of the stylist’s Volkswagen.
In the early years, there were many efforts and sacrifices, with cries of despair and many hours of accumulated work, without rest. This period of great effort and dedication did not allow Giorgio Armani to realize that, in the meantime, the industry machine was paying attention to his work and talent, and that, silently, a small revolution in Italian men’s fashion was beginning, with unlined coats of light and floating fabric that were already making history. Collection after collection, the Giorgio Armani line, for men and women, proposed formal but very innovative clothes, and above all, deconstructed ones. Each piece told a story of elegance, innovation, and the unique vision of a designer who was beginning to shape the fashion scene discreetly but undeniably impactfully. The 40 years of the Armani empire were celebrated with great refinement over two days in Milan. In a retrospective of the designer’s remarkable trajectory, 600 pieces of clothing and 200 accessories were presented, marking the simultaneous opening of the Armani/Silos exhibition space. In addition, the designer conceived a grandiose fashion show, highlighting a compilation of looks from Armani Privé, a constant presence at haute couture week in Paris since 2005. At 89, Armani continues to be the CEO and sole shareholder of the company he created with his late partner in the 1970s, recording a turnover of 2.35 billion euros in 2023, with nearly six thousand employees in more than two thousand own stores and sales points in seventy countries.
Forever young
The story of Giorgio Armani reveals a man who has become a true legend: always dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he exhibits impeccable tan and white hair that betray nothing of his perpetual youth and tireless style. Perhaps the secret lies in masterful balance: he devotes himself body and soul to work in the Milan office but reserves Friday afternoons for a getaway to his retreat, the majestic Villa Rivara. With 26 rooms, the mansion, inspired by eighteenth-century palaces, stands in the middle of a property embraced by a park with lakes, orchards, and vegetable gardens, where alpacas, zebras, cows, and horses roam freely. In this idyllic retreat, Armani revitalizes energies, as if the essence of eternity were woven into the threads of his daily life. Giorgio Armani, in addition to his prominence in fashion, is recognized for a multifaceted approach and holistic vision. His paths and influence extend beyond the catwalks, encompassing interior design, perfumery, and even the hotel sector. Armani is a creator of experiences, not just designing clothes but symbolizing a glamorous and timeless lifestyle. As we explore the complexities of this vast empire, we discover that he is not just a fashion designer but a meticulous architect of environments, an alchemist of enveloping fragrances, and a curator of spaces that transcend the ephemeral to reveal true works of art. His influence manifests in details, from the precise cuts of a blazer to the sensory harmony of a setting. Moreover, his brand is not limited to fashion; it is an expression of elegance that invades all aspects of life, marking the perfect fusion of the classic with the contemporary. The story of Giorgio Armani will always be the account of someone who not only shaped the fashion industry but also left an indelible mark in various domains, elevating his legacy to a sphere of influence that transcends borders and generations.
